Reps. Hoogendyk, Gosselin, Baxter, Caswell, Green, Hildenbrand, Leland, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Marleau, Meyer, Mortimer, Pearce, Stahl, Vagnozzi and Vander Veen offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 140.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to incorporate a strategy of offsetting cuts to finance the cost of rebuilding the hurricane-damaged communities of the Gulf Coast.

            Whereas, The hurricane damage inflicted on the Gulf Coast region along Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama represents the most damaging and costliest natural disaster in our nation's history.  Estimates range as high as $200 billion or more, and the true cost will not be certain for several years; and

            Whereas, With budget deficits already burdening our nation, hard choices need to be made to ensure that the massive rebuilding task before us does not cripple our economy far into the future as a result of further debt.  Our nation has on many occasions experienced the long-term damage that can result from our inability to make responsible decisions on how the public's money is spent.  It is also wise to remember that this debt is incurred on behalf of our children and grandchildren; and

            Whereas, Several members of Congress have developed what they call "Operation Offset" as a blueprint for making cuts in approved programs to finance the reconstruction and recovery work facing the country.  This comprehensive strategy includes a wide range of specific spending items, ranging from components of the recently enacted massive transportation bill, with thousands of projects, to virtually all areas of the federal budget.  Difficult times require difficult decisions and difficult sacrifices.  Making these hard choices by using offsetting cuts will prevent the hurricanes of 2005 from exacting an even higher toll on our nation for years to come; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to incorporate a strategy of offsetting cuts to finance the cost of rebuilding the hurricane-damaged communities of the Gulf Coast; 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.