Bill Text: IN SCR0034 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Supporting construction of the Detroit River International Crossing.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-10 - First reading: referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure [SCR0034 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-SCR0034-Introduced.html
RESOLUTION No. _____
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION to support the construction of the
new Detroit River International Crossing between the United States and
Canada.
, read first time and referred to Committee on
RESOLUTION No. _____
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION to support the construction of
the new Detroit River International Crossing between the United States
and Canada.
Whereas, Canada is the largest foreign trade partner for
the United States, and the largest foreign trade partner for
34 states, including Indiana;
Whereas, Indiana sells more to Canada than to the state's
next seven largest foreign markets combined. Indiana exports
to Canada totaled $8.1 billion in 2009;
Whereas, Indiana's bilateral trade with Canada for 2009
was valued at $12.6 billion;
Whereas, Canada remained Indiana's largest export
market for the ninth consecutive year in 2009, purchasing
37% of the state's worldwide shipments;
Whereas, An estimated 162,300 jobs in Indiana depend
on trade with Canada;
Whereas, Canadians made more than 204,600 visits to
Indiana during 2009, spending more than $53 million;
Whereas, Approximately 54% of United States-Canada trade moves by truck and about half (approximately 45.5%)
of the trucks use the Detroit and Port Huron border
crossings;
Whereas, Plans are underway to build an additional
international border crossing system over the Detroit River,
known as the Detroit River International Crossing, consisting
of a six-lane bridge with three lanes bound for the United
States and three lanes bound for Canada, connected to the
new United States and Canadian inspection plazas;
Whereas, The Detroit River International Crossing will
have an enormous economic impact on the U.S. economy,
creating 10,000 construction jobs and more than 30,000
indirect jobs during the construction period in the United
States;
Whereas, The State of Michigan and Transport Canada
are pursuing a public-private partnership to finance and
deliver the Detroit River International 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 Detroit
River International Crossing;
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;
Whereas, That members of the Indiana General Assembly do hereby fully support the new Detroit River International
Crossing project, and any legislation that will allow for its
construction and creation of a public-private partnership to
finance and deliver the new border crossing;
Whereas, That the members of the Indiana General
Assembly encourage initiatives that bring investments in
communities hosting the Detroit River International Crossing
project and the entire multi-state region, including job
creation, environmental improvement, increased trade, and
other benefits that improve the quality of life of residents;
and
Whereas, That the members of the Indiana General
Assembly recognize that the Detroit River International
Crossing will have an immeasurable economic impact on the
State of Indiana and will lay the foundation for future
productivity, growth, and economic stability of local
economies within Indiana: Therefore,
SECTION 1. The Indiana General Assembly supports the
construction of the new Detroit River International Crossing.
SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to
transmit a copy of this Resolution to Rick Snyder, the Governor of
Michigan; Brian Calley, the President of the Michigan Senate;
Gretchen Whitmer, the Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate; Jase
Bolger, the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives; Richard
Hammel, the Minority Leader of the Michigan House of
Representatives; Roy Norton, the Consul General of Canada in Detroit,
Michigan; and Daniel Ujczo, the Economic Relations and Regulatory
Officer at the Consulate General of Canada in Detroit, Michigan.
