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SR 223
As Adopted by Senate

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S. R. No. 223 As Adopted by the Senate

As Adopted by the Senate

128th General Assembly

Regular Session

2009-2010

S. R. No. 223

Senator Buehrer

Cosponsors: Senators Carey, Faber, Fedor, Gibbs, Gillmor, Harris, Hughes, Kearney, Miller, D., Morano, Patton, Schiavoni, Schuring, Strahorn, Turner, Wagoner, Widener, Seitz, Smith, Husted, Cafaro, Cates

A RESOLUTION

To support the construction of the new Detroit River International Crossing between the United States and Canada.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       WHEREAS, Canada is the largest foreign trade partner for the United States, the largest foreign trade partner for 35 states, and the second-largest foreign trade partner for ten states; and

       WHEREAS, Canada is Ohio's top export market; and

       WHEREAS, Ohio's bilateral trade with Canada for the year 2008 was $35.8 billion; and

       WHEREAS, An estimated 267,500 jobs in Ohio are supported by United States-Canada trade; and

       WHEREAS, Canadians made more than 605,300 visits to Ohio during 2008, spending more than $138 million; and

       WHEREAS, Approximately 54% of United States-Canada trade moves by truck and about half (approximately 45.5%) of the trucks use the Detroit and Port Huron border crossings; and

       WHEREAS, Plans are underway to build an additional international border crossing system over the Detroit River, known as the Detroit River International Crossing, consisting of a six-lane bridge with three lanes bound for the United States and three lanes bound for Canada, connected to new United States and Canadian inspection plazas; and

       WHEREAS, The Detroit River International Crossing will have an enormous economic impact on the U.S. economy, creating 10,000 construction jobs and more than 30,000 indirect jobs during the construction period in the United States; and

       WHEREAS, The State of Michigan and Transport Canada are pursuing a public-private partnership to finance and deliver the Detroit River International Crossing; and

       WHEREAS, The partnership will be in the form of a long-term concession agreement that will seek to maximize private sector participation and financing by allowing for public ownership of the bridge and private financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the bridge while protecting the public interest; and

       WHEREAS, The State of Michigan needs legislative authority to enter into the public-private partnership and to enter into an agreement with Canada to build the Detroit River International Crossing; and

       WHEREAS, A modern border crossing that can support the ever-increasing amount of trade and travel between the United States and Canada is essential to the economies of Ohio, the Midwest, and the United States; now therefore be it

       RESOLVED, That members of the Ohio Senate do hereby fully support the new Detroit River International Crossing project and any legislation that will allow for its construction and creation of a public-private partnership to finance and deliver the new border crossing; and be it further

       RESOLVED, That the members of the Ohio Senate encourage initiatives that bring investments in communities hosting the Detroit River International Crossing project and the entire multistate region, including job creation, environmental improvement, increased trade, and other benefits that improve the quality of life of residents; and be it further

       RESOLVED, That the members of the Ohio Senate recognize that the Detroit River International Crossing will have an immeasurable economic impact on the State of Ohio and will lay the foundation for future productivity, growth, and economic stability of local economies within Ohio; and be it further

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the President of the Michigan Senate, the Minority Leader of the Michigan Senate, the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives, the Governor of Michigan, and the Consul General of Canada in Detroit, Michigan.