Reps. Hoogendyk, DeRossett, Sheen, Stahl, Nofs, Ward, Gaffney, Pastor, Newell, Casperson, Emmons, Steil, Garfield, Drolet, Huizenga, DeRoche, Farhat, Palsrok, Stewart, Caul, Milosch, Moolenaar, Taub, Van Regenmorter, Amos, Shaffer, Robertson, Richardville, Bieda, Caswell, Sheltrown, Acciavatti, Middaugh, Accavitti, Brandenburg, Hummel, Julian, Shulman, Stakoe, Wenke, Woodward, Meyer, Shackleton, Spade and Lipsey offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 5

            A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide that all states receive a minimum of 95 percent of transportation funds sent to the federal government and to urge Congress to make the return of transportation money to the states a higher priority within existing federal revenues.

            Whereas, For several decades, Michigan has sent much more federal highway tax money to Washington than it has received in return.  This imbalance has helped our nation build the country's highway infrastructure.  With the national infrastructure largely completed, the continuation of the imbalance has created a serious challenge for Michigan and other "donor states"; and

            Whereas, Michigan, which typically loses between $150 million and $400 million each year by sending more to Washington than it receives, is severely hampered.  The unfair practice of contributing hundreds of millions of dollars beyond the amount we receive to fund projects in other parts of the country makes it far more difficult for Michigan to maintain the quality of its highways.  The loss of funding also represents a serious loss of economic activity; and

            Whereas, The chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in Congress have proposed a major change in how federal highway funds are distributed.  They have called for a funding formula that would guarantee that all states receive a minimum of 95 percent of what they each contribute to the federal highway program; and

            Whereas, The potential impact for Michigan of a guarantee of at least 95 percent of this funding would be very significant.  Even as the economy calls for more careful public expenditures, this proposed policy change would help Michigan and bring greater fairness to the issue of transportation spending.  Citizens, visitors, and businesses of this state would benefit enormously from this long overdue policy; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to provide that all states receive a minimum of 95 percent of transportation funds sent to the federal government and to urge Congress to make the return of transportation money to the states a higher priority within existing federal revenues; 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, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.