Reps. Brown, Ball, Bieda, Brandenburg, Casperson, Clack, Constan, Cushingberry, Dean, Farrah, Gonzales, Hansen, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Kathleen Law, Leland, Lemmons, Marleau, Meadows, Nitz, Palmer, Pearce, Polidori, Proos, Rocca, Sak, Sheltrown, Stahl, Tobocman, Valentine and Wojno offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 48.

            A concurrent resolution to urge regular funding for the United States Army Corps of Engineers to dredge recreational harbors on the Great Lakes.

            Whereas, Recreational boating on the Great Lakes is a billion dollar industry. The Great Lakes states are home to 4.3 million registered recreational boats, one-third of all registered boats nationwide. More than 900,000 recreational boats in the region are estimated to operate primarily on the Great Lakes. These Great Lakes boaters pump nearly $3.8 billion dollars per year into local economies, creating thousands of jobs and spurring waterfront redevelopment; and

            Whereas, Boaters on the Great Lakes rely on the network of more than 80 recreational harbors to launch, operate, and dock their boats. These harbors are not only used by recreational boaters but may serve as the home for ferry operations and United States Coast Guard search and rescue stations. In addition, sixteen are designated harbors of refuge during storms and five are essential for isolated island communities to receive goods and services; and

            Whereas, Recreational harbors require regular dredging so boaters can use them safely. Natural shoaling, exacerbated by current low lake levels, reduce access to recreational harbors and create dangerous boating conditions that jeopardize the economic benefits derived from recreational boating; and

            Whereas, Current federal policies and funding limit dredging in recreational harbors traditionally maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The Army Corps would secure the billions in economic activity generated by recreational boating by regularly dredging recreational harbors on the Great Lakes; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we urge regular funding for the United States Army Corps of Engineers to dredge recreational harbors on the Great Lakes; 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.