RYAN BURGESS MEMORIAL HWY S.B. 481 (S-2):
ANALYSIS AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
Senate Bill 481 (Substitute S-2 as passed by the Senate)
RATIONALE
Lance Corporal Ryan Burgess was killed at the age of 21 on December 21, 2006, while serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was a graduate of Meridian High School in the Village of Sanford, Midland County. Following graduation, he completed one year of college before joining the United States Marine Corps. To honor his sacrifice and service, it has been suggested that a portion of highway US-10 should be named after Lance Corporal Burgess.
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of highway US-10 beginning at the intersection with Stark Road and extending west to River Road as the "Marine Lance Corporal Ryan Burgess Memorial Highway".
The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
According to his obituary in the Midland Daily News, Lance Corporal Burgess was killed by an improvised explosive device during his second tour in Iraq, where he was a vehicle commander and squad leader, and earned the Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge. When Lance Corporal Burgess was brought home for his funeral, many Marines flew in from across the country to pay their respects and tell the family about heroic and kind things that he had done, according to an article posted on ourmidland.com ("Ryan Burgess: Remembering our Fallen Heroes, 5-25-2014). According to one such story, Lance Corporal Burgess displayed tremendous bravery when he saved a girl who was left in the middle of an Iraqi street amid a hail of gunfire. Naming a highway after Lance Corporal Burgess would be an appropriate way to honor his sacrifice and service as a member of the United States Marine Corps.
Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.