SPC HOLLY MCGEOGH MEM HWY                                                          H.B. 5553 (H-1):

                                                                              SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Bill 5553 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Alex Garza

House Committee:  Transportation

                             Ways and Means

Senate Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure

 

Date Completed:  12-1-20

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of Highway I-75 located in the City of Taylor between the intersection of Highway I-75 and Allen Road and the intersection of Highway I-75 and Pennsylvania Road as the "SPC Holly McGeogh Memorial Highway".

 

Proposed MCL 250.1102

 

BACKGROUND

 

Specialist Holly McGeogh was born on August 29, 1984, in Dearborn, MI. She graduated from Truman High School in Taylor in 2002, where she spent four years participating in the Army Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program. After graduation, Holly enlisted in the Army and attended basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She remained at Fort Jackson after basic training to complete Advanced Infantry Training and training to become a light wheeled mechanic. She was transferred to the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

 

In April 2003, Specialist McGeogh was deployed with her division to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On January 31, 2004, while returning from Kirkuk on a trip to secure spare parts, an improvised explosive device detonated underneath her vehicle, killing Specialist McGeogh and two others. She was 19 years old.

 

Specialist McGeogh's military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, Overseas Ribbon and the Army Training Ribbon. She received a posthumous promotion from Private First Class to Specialist in accordance with plans for the promotion scheduled for the day following her death.

 

                                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Tyler VanHuyse

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The Act specifies that the Department of Transportation may provide for the erection and maintenance of markers designating the name of a highway only when sufficient private funds are available to cover the costs of erecting and maintaining those markers. As such, private funds would cover the cost of the renaming, and no State funds would be used.

 

                                                                                 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.