Rep. Scripps offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 336.
A resolution to urge the U.S. Coast Guard and the Michigan and U.S. Attorney General to take immediate and decisive action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators responsible for the illegal dumping leading to trash and medical waste washing up on Lake Michigan beaches.
Whereas, Once again, medical waste and other garbage has been washing up on Lake Michigan beaches. This waste creates a potentially dangerous situation to Michigan residents exposed to syringes, empty blood vials, and other waste. In addition, local communities and taxpayers are being forced to bear the cost of cleaning up the mess and the potential economic hit during the summer tourism season--a situation further straining local budgets; and
Whereas, The responsible party must be held accountable for trashing Michigan beaches this time. It is simply unacceptable that large amounts of garbage and medical waste can be dumped in the Great Lakes without consequences. Michigan taxpayers should not have to foot the bill again for the illegal actions of others; and
Whereas, The U.S. Coast Guard must make it a priority to identify the origins of this waste. Past experience clearly indicates that unless the responsible party is identified, this will not be an isolated incident and we can expect future incidents of medical waste and garbage washing up on Michigan beaches; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the U.S. Coast Guard and the Michigan and U.S. Attorney General to take immediate and decisive action to identify and prosecute the perpetrators responsible for the illegal dumping leading to trash and medical waste washing up on Lake Michigan beaches; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Ninth District, the U.S. Attorney General, the Michigan Attorney General, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.