Rep. Stahl offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 380.

            A resolution to memorialize Congress and the President to support the Growth Options for the 21st Century mission of increased freight rail capacity.

Whereas, The nation is facing a freight mobility crisis. State and federal transportation officials project that freight volume in the United States will increase by more than 67 percent over the next 20 years; and

            Whereas, The nation's highways are already stretched to capacity and the efficient movement of goods is directly related to the strength of our nation's economy and its citizens' quality of life; and

            Whereas, Increased freight rail capacity will benefit the citizens of Michigan by relieving worsening congestion, reducing highway cost, providing a critical intermodal link, and improving air quality and fuel efficiency; and

Whereas, Tax incentives for rail capacity enhancements, such as those found in the Freight Rail Infrastructure Capacity Expansion Act currently under consideration in Congress, would help bridge the funding gap and produce public benefits that would far exceed the cost of the incentives. A relatively modest public investment in freight rail infrastructure would yield an impressive return on investment in the form of savings to motorists, businesses, and taxpayers; and

            Whereas, The mission of Growth Options for the 21st Century is to build a stronger economy, reduce highway congestion, improve air quality, use tax dollars more efficiently, and improve the quality of life by advocating increased use of freight rail transportation.

Whereas, Limiting investments in rail infrastructure would lead to more truck traffic on overcrowded highways, higher commuter costs, a greater burden on taxpayers for highway infrastructure repairs, fuel waste and increased air pollution, higher costs for businesses and consumers, and fewer jobs in the rail industry; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize Congress and the President to support the Go21 mission of increased freight rail capacity and enact the Freight Rail Infrastructure Capacity Expansion Act; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States,

the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.