Indiana-2012-HR0078-Introduced

Introduced Version

HOUSE

RESOLUTION No. ___

Introduced by: Bosma, Reske

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A HOUSE RESOLUTION supporting the construction of the New International Trade Crossing between the United States and Canada.

Whereas, Canada is the largest foreign trade partner for the United States and the largest export destination for 35 states;

Whereas, Canada is Indiana's top export market;

Whereas, Indiana's bilateral trade with Canada for the year 2009 was $12.6 billion;

Whereas, An estimated 162,300 jobs in Indiana are supported by United States-Canada bilateral trade;

Whereas, Canadians made more than 204,600 visits to Indiana during 2009, spending more than $53 million;

Whereas, The current bridge between Detroit and Windsor is 82 years old and carries one-fourth of all United States-Canada trade, which consists of 20,000 vehicles and approximately $350 million in value daily;

Whereas, Eight million jobs in the United States depend on United States-Canada trade and the livelihoods of two million Americans rely on that 82-year-old bridge between Detroit and Windsor;

Whereas, Plans are underway to build an additional international border crossing system over the Detroit River, to be known as the New International Trade Crossing. The crossing will consist of a six-lane bridge with three lanes bound for the United States and three lanes bound for Canada, and connected to new United States and Canadian inspection plazas;

Whereas, The New International Trade Crossing will have an enormous impact on the United States economy, creating 10,000 construction jobs and more than 25,000 other jobs in the United States during the construction period;

Whereas, The state of Michigan and Transport Canada are pursuing a public-private partnership to finance and deliver the New International Trade Crossing;

Whereas, The partnership will be in the form of a long-term concession agreement that will seek to maximize private sector participation and financing by allowing for public ownership of the bridge and private financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the bridge while protecting the public interest;

Whereas, The state of Michigan needs legislative authority to enter into the public-private partnership and to enter into an agreement with Canada to build the New International Trade Crossing; and

Whereas, A modern border crossing that can support the ever-increasing amount of trade and travel between the United States and Canada is essential to the economies of Indiana, the Midwest, and the United States: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the

General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. That the members of the Indiana House of Representatives do hereby fully support the New International Trade Crossing project and any legislation that will allow for its construction and the creation of a public-private partnership to finance and deliver the new border crossing.
    SECTION 2. That the members of the Indiana House of Representatives encourage initiatives that bring investments to communities hosting the New International Trade Crossing project as well as to the entire multistate region, including job creation, environmental improvement, increased trade, and other benefits that improve the quality of life of residents.
    SECTION 3. That the members of the Indiana House of Representatives recognize that the New International Trade Crossing will have an immeasurable economic impact on the state of Indiana and will lay the foundation for future productivity, growth, and stability of local economies within Indiana.
    SECTION 4. That the Principal Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the Michigan Senate, the Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate, the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives, the Governor of Michigan, and the Consul General of Canada in Detroit, Michigan.