DAVID WARSEN MEMORIAL HWY                                                                   S.B. 1099:

                                                                   ANALYSIS AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 1099 (as reported without amendment)                                 (enrolled version)

Sponsor:  Senator Mark C. Jansen

Committee:  Transportation

 

Date Completed:  10-30-14

 

RATIONALE

 

The Michigan Memorial Highway Act provides for the naming of highways in this State. Many of the highways have been named after police officers or soldiers killed in the line of duty, or noted community figures. Accordingly, it has been suggested that a highway in Kent County be named after a Navy SEAL killed while on duty in Afghanistan, as a tribute to his service.

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of Highway M-6 in Kent County beginning at the intersection of M-6 and Kalamazoo Avenue and continuing west to the intersection of M-6 and Byron Center Avenue as the "David Warsen Memorial Highway".

 

Proposed MCL 250.1094

 

BACKGROUND

 

David Warsen graduated from East Kentwood High School in 2004. After attending local colleges, he enlisted in the Navy in 2009 and later joined the Navy SEALs. He was sent to Afghanistan in December 2011.[1] In August 2012, Warsen was on a Special Operations mission in the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar with 10 other American and Afghan personnel when their Blackhawk UH-60 helicopter was shot down by Taliban fighters.[2] All on board were killed. Warsen was the recipient of a number of medals and honors, including the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the NATO Service Medal, Expert Rifle Marksmanship Medal and the Expert Pistol Marksmanship Medal.[3]

 

ARGUMENTS

 

(Please note:  The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency.  The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)

 

Supporting Argument

The bill would be a tribute to a well-respected Navy SEAL who died serving his country in Afghanistan. The bill would rename a prominent road in Kent County, where David Warsen was born and raised, and attended high school.

 

                                                                                    Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

 

                                                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Glenn Steffens

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.

 



[1] John Tunison, "Grand Rapids area Navy SEAL, killed in Afghanistan, was to finish deployment in month", MLive, 8-17-2012, retrieved 10-29-2014 at: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/08/grand_rapids_area_navy_seal_ki.html.

[2] Muhammad Lila & Martha Raddatz, "7 American Troops Killed in Fiery Helicopter Crash in Afghanistan", ABC News, 8-16-2012, retrieved 8-29-2014 at: http://abcnews.go.com/International/american-troops-killed-fiery-helicopter-crash-afghanistan/story?id=17018129.

[3] John Tunison, "Navy SEAL David Warsen of Kentwood laid to rest", MLive, 8-30-2012, retrieved 10-30-2012 at: http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2012/08/navy_seal_david_warsen_of_kent.html.