SR217, As Adopted by Senate, October 20, 2016

            Senators Bieda and Kowall offered the following resolution:

Senate Resolution No. 217.

A resolution to recognize November 30, 2016, as the Third Annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day.

Whereas, Michigan’s automotive heritage is preserved and promoted by the MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership, an affiliate of the National Park Service; and

Whereas, National Heritage Areas are places where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape arising from patterns of humanity; and

Whereas, The MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership is Michigan’s only national heritage area, located throughout a region of more than 10,000 miles covering a population of more than 6 million people; and

Whereas, The MotorCities National Heritage Area is the largest concentration of auto-related sites, attractions and events in the world bringing millions of visitors and dollars into the state’s economy each year; and

Whereas, A study completed in 2015, showed that the MotorCities National Heritage Area generates $410.4 million in economic impact and supports $35.4 million in tax revenue; and

Whereas, The economic strength of our nation is connected integrally to the vitality of the automobile industry, which employs millions of workers; and

Whereas, The industrial and cultural heritage of the automobile industry in Michigan includes the social history and living cultural traditions of many generations; and

Whereas, The original legislation that created the MotorCities National Heritage Area in 1998 was championed by Congressman John Dingell and Senator Carl Levin, two of Michigan’s longest serving public servants; and

Whereas, In 2016, the MotorCities National Heritage Area celebrated the National Park Service’s 100^th anniversary through local and statewide programming; and

Whereas, The 'Find Your Road Trip, Find Yourself' tourism guide was very popular, with 20,000 copies being circulated throughout the National Heritage Area; and

Whereas, For the third consecutive year, Michigan Legislators will be invited to participate in the Automotive Caucus for members to exchange ideas and influence policy, including auto heritage; now, therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize November 30, 2016, as the Third Annual Michigan Auto Heritage Day; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the MotorCities National Heritage Area Partnership.