Bill Text: MI HR0195 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used solely for the dredging, infrastructure, operation, and maintenance of federally authorized ports.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 22-3)
Status: (Passed) 2012-06-05 - Adopted [HR0195 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-HR0195-Enrolled.html
Reps. Pscholka, Bumstead, Kowall, Daley, Poleski, Price, Tyler, Heise, Hooker, Wayne Schmidt, LaFontaine, Haveman, Lyons, Forlini, Muxlow, Goike, Genetski, Pettalia, Lori, Nesbitt, Barnett, Cotter, Horn, LeBlanc and Liss offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 195.
A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used solely for the dredging, infrastructure, operation, and maintenance of federally authorized ports.
Whereas, Maritime commerce is credited with creating 26,819 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in Michigan in 2010. The Great Lakes harbor system is also credited with $1.8 billion in income and $3.8 billion in business revenues to Michigan residents and businesses that are a vital part of our state's economy; and
Whereas, Domestic shippers and importers using Great Lakes and coastal ports pay more than a billion dollars per year in federal harbor maintenance taxes. Congress established the tax to fund harbor operation and maintenance, particularly dredging, at these ports; and
Whereas, Despite a nearly $6 billion balance in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, our nation's dredging needs are not being met. Throughout our nation and particularly in the Great Lakes region, the lack of dredging has forced shippers to operate inefficiently and carry lighter loads, costing them millions of dollars each year; and
Whereas, The Obama administration has only budgeted about half of the revenue collected through the harbor maintenance tax for maintaining our nation's harbors. Last year, nearly $1.5 billion was collected from shippers, but only $758 million has been allocated for dredging harbors in Michigan and other coastal states; and
Whereas, During the current turbulent economic conditions, we must make every effort to support economic activity by maintaining the infrastructure necessary for commerce. Essentially, by using harbor maintenance taxes placed in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to finance and balance other portions of the federal budget, we are breaking our promise to the shippers paying the tax and hurting our nation's economic recovery; and
Whereas, Current congressional legislation (H.R. 104 and S. 412) would ensure that harbor maintenance taxes are exclusively used for their intended purpose to maintain our nation's harbors; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to ensure that amounts credited to the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are used solely for the dredging, infrastructure, operation, and maintenance of federally authorized ports; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
