Rep. Tobocman offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 149.

            A resolution to urge the Michigan Strategic Fund to reject the Ambassador Bridge's application for United States Department of Transportation private activity bonds for the construction of a new privately owned international crossing of the Detroit River.

            Whereas, The international border crossing at Detroit is a critical juncture in the economic partnership that exists between the United States and Canada. This relationship, the largest bilateral trading partnership in the world, is strongly dependent upon the efficiency and safety of the border crossing infrastructure, as well as strong relationships among Michigan, the United States, Ontario, and the federal government of Canada. With projections of future growth in the volume of trade between our nations that will exceed our current infrastructure's capacity, steps are being taken to add crossings at the Detroit River; and

            Whereas, The Detroit River International Crossing study represents the first coordinated and comprehensive effort to ensure safe and efficient borders between Southeastern Michigan and Southwestern Ontario, the hemisphere’s most valuable trade route. The study has rejected a new privately owned international crossing of the Detroit River immediately adjacent to the existing Ambassador Bridge, which is the proposal before the Michigan Strategic Fund, on grounds that it would have unacceptable negative environmental and community impacts, that the road network at the foot of the bridge would be inadequate to meet future truck volumes, and that such a crossing would provide virtually no system redundancy for homeland security purposes; and

            Whereas, The Michigan Strategic Fund was created by 1984 PA 270 with broad authority to promote economic development and to create jobs. Its 11-member board, appointed by the Governor, has the responsibility to promote the economic well-being of the Detroit metropolitan region, the state, and our country by ensuring solid trade routes; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan Strategic Fund to reject the Ambassador Bridge's application for United States Department of Transportation private activity bonds for the construction of a new privately owned international crossing of the Detroit River; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Strategic Fund Board and the Office of the Governor.