Bill Text: MI HR0209 | 2013-2014 | 97th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the Kingdom of the Netherlands to strongly reconsider the proposed closing of the Dutch Consulate General Office in Chicago and to retain a strong diplomatic presence in the Midwest region of the United States for generations to come.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 8-2)
Status: (Passed) 2013-09-03 - Adopted [HR0209 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2013-HR0209-Enrolled.html
Reps. Haveman, Lyons, Tlaib, VerHeulen, Bolger, Brinks, Victory, Price, Yonker and Muxlow offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 209.
A resolution to memorialize the Kingdom of the Netherlands to strongly reconsider the proposed closing of the Dutch Consulate General Office in Chicago and to retain a strong diplomatic presence in the Midwest region of the United States for generations to come.
Whereas, For over 400 years, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the United States have had a strong diplomatic, cultural, and economic relationship. This relationship helped to establish the Dutch Consulate General Office in Chicago which provides a wide array of consular services to a fourteen-state region, including Michigan; and
Whereas, In June 2013, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs announced a modernization of the Dutch Foreign Service plan which includes the proposed closing of five consulate general offices around the world including Chicago, Osaka, Munich, Milan, and Antwerp; and
Whereas, The Midwest region is home to over one million Americans of Dutch ancestry, and the state of Michigan is honored to be the home to over a half million of those citizens. The significant size of the Dutch descendant population makes it very special from an ethnic and cultural point of view and also makes the relationship between the Midwest region of the United States and the Kingdom of the Netherlands one of critical importance to foster. So significant is the Dutch influence in Michigan that a large number of cities in Western Michigan were founded and named by Dutch immigrants; and
Whereas, In April 2013, the Lieutenant Governor of Michigan, state legislative leaders, and many members of Michigan's business, educational, and cultural community attended the state's first trade mission to the Netherlands which was instituted with the assistance of the Dutch Consulate General in Chicago and the West Michigan Global Initiative. The trade mission was instrumental in expanding the political and business ties of both regions in order to build on an already strong relationship foundation; and
Whereas, Dutch exports to the Midwest region of the United States are three times the size of those exports sent to Canada or India. In terms of economic relations with the Netherlands, the Midwest is critical. A full twenty-seven percent of Dutch exports to the U.S. are destined for Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan. For Michigan, the Netherlands is a significantly strong and growing export market; and
Whereas, So important is the relationship with the Netherlands, that the Michigan Legislature has formed a bi-partisan Legislative Dutch Caucus. Its members actively support economic and culture engagement with the Kingdom of the Netherlands and strongly encourage the Netherlands to maintain a diplomatic mission and presence in Michigan and the Midwest region; and
Whereas, The closure of the Dutch Consulate General Office in the Midwest region would have a negative effect on the growing economic activity and the special relationship that exists between Michigan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The state of Michigan offers its assistance to find a solution that will allow the special relationship which exists to continue to flourish; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Kingdom of the Netherlands to strongly reconsider the proposed closing of the Dutch Consulate General Office in Chicago and furthermore request that the Kingdom of the Netherlands retain a strong diplomatic presence in the Midwest region of the United States for generations to come; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the States-General of the Netherlands.
