Reps. Somerville, Barnett, Brown and Roberts offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 284.

            A resolution to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the North American International Auto Show and to declare January 2014 as North American International Auto Show Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Detroit is a city that rose to greatness on the back of automobile manufacturing, becoming one of the world’s great industrial centers and a shining example of American ingenuity and innovation; and

            Whereas, The “Motor City” powered an economic and social revolution in the United States, its industrial advances and mighty Detroit muscle pushing America into modernity and changing the very culture of the nation; and

            Whereas, The history and fortunes of Detroit are forever intertwined with the history and fortunes of the automotive industry and no symbol captures the spirit and soul of the city more than an American-made automobile; and

            Whereas, In order to celebrate Detroit’s economic and cultural connection to the automobile industry, the Detroit Auto Dealers Association has played host to an auto show nearly every year since 1907; and

            Whereas, While the original Detroit Auto Show was a regional affair that focused solely on domestic automobiles, an innovative and visionary group within the Detroit Auto Dealers Association sought to change the nature of the event in the 1980s, seeking to bring European and Asian manufacturers to the show, thereby making it a truly world-class event; and

            Whereas, The vision of the Detroit Auto Dealers Association was achieved in 1989, when the newly-named North American International Auto Show became a reality in the Motor City; and

Whereas, Since that time, the dedication and hard work of the Detroit-area auto dealers who have served on the event’s organizing committee have allowed the North American International Auto Show to become one of the premier auto shows in the world, having featured more than 200 exhibitors, drawn more than 18 million attendees, and hosted more than 1,300 automobile debuts; and

            Whereas, The North American International Auto Show not only captures the imagination and spirit of Detroit, but it also gives back to its hometown, providing more than $90 million to Detroit-area charities, including $47 million in the past decade alone; and

            Whereas, Thanks to the generosity of those affiliated with the automotive industry, the North American International Auto Show Charity Preview has become the largest single night fundraiser in the world; and

            Whereas, Over the past 25 years, the North American International Auto Show has had an economic impact of nearly $10 billion in the southeastern Michigan region; and

            Whereas, The people of the state of Michigan owe a great deal to the automotive industry, as it has long been the economic engine of our state; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That that the members of this legislative body commemorate the 25th anniversary of the North American International Auto Show and  declare January 2014 as North American International Auto Show Month in the state of Michigan. We encourage all Michiganders to celebrate the anniversary of the North American International Auto Show and to appreciate the ingenuity, innovation, and generosity of the industry that has shaped our great state; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the North American International Auto Show and the Detroit Auto Dealers Association.