Reps. Hunter, DeRossett, Anderson, Sheltrown, Lipsey, Brown, Whitmer, Tobocman, Shackleton, Condino, Vagnozzi, Law, Meisner, Elkins, Gillard, Gleason, Bieda, Hopgood, Kolb, Cheeks, Paletko, Acciavatti, Accavitti, Phillips, Stallworth, Dennis, Farrah, Spade, Hune, Gaffney, Jamnick, Kooiman, Rivet, Minore, Gieleghem, Adamini, Brandenburg, Casperson, Daniels, Farhat, McConico, Middaugh, Murphy, Richardville, Waters, Ehardt, Garfield and Huizenga offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 33.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to appropriate an additional $5 billion for road and bridge improvement projects.

            Whereas, The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), which authorizes federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit, will expire on September 30, 2003.  The reauthorization of the programs through legislation will influence the spending of public money for transportation purposes for many years; and

            Whereas, Although the money that goes into our transportation network always represents an investment for the future, the current economic climate across the country argues strongly for the wisdom of this public investment.  Indeed, as leaders in Washington look for ways to stimulate the national economy, the positive impact that additional funding for road and bridge improvement projects could have on economic development efforts must be strongly considered; and

            Whereas, A major infusion of additional funding for transportation is needed to create jobs and strengthen the infrastructure of our cities and states.  Among the options under consideration in the United States House of Representatives is an economic stimulus proposal that would include an additional $5 billion in transportation funding for economic development projects.  This money would be put to its best use by funding road and bridge improvement projects.  Doing so would bring significant benefits to all segments of the economy and all regions of the country; and

            Whereas, The impact of the additional spending for road and bridge improvement projects would be to provide immediate stimulus to our economy.  For every billion dollars spent on these types of projects, 42,000 jobs would be created.  Each dollar spent for these purposes would spin off $6 worth of economic activity; and

            Whereas, Under the proposed additional $5 billion for highway spending on road and bridge improvement projects, Michigan would receive a significant boost.  This would be especially true if Congress rectifies the inequities of the past by enacting legislation to assure that each state must receive at least 95 percent of the amount of transportation tax dollars sent to Washington; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to appropriate an additional $5 billion for road and bridge improvement projects and to distribute the funds through the reauthorized Transportation Equity Act formula as adjusted to increase the minimum percentage each state receives to at least 95 percent of the amount of transportation taxes sent to Washington by the state; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the majority and minority leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate,  the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the Michigan Department of Transportation, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the American Legislative Exchange Council.