Reps. Meltzer, Denby, Moss, Lund, Lori, DeShazor, Calley, Leland, Genetski, Agema, Terry Brown, Constan, Crawford, Dean, Durhal, Gonzales, Green, Haines, Horn, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Lemmons, Mayes, McMillin, Meadows, Miller, Opsommer, Pearce, Proos, Rocca, Rogers, Scripps, Slavens, Booher, Espinoza, Knollenberg, LeBlanc and Marleau offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 77.

            A resolution to memorialize Congress to incorporate into federal road funding distribution formulas appropriate consideration of the impact that climate has on highways.

            Whereas, The climate in Michigan, and in other upper Midwest and Northeast states, is extremely hard on state highways and local roads. Potholes and other road damage are sustained by the freeze/thaw cycle that comes with late winter and early spring each year. The resulting poor condition of many roads can be enough to cause damage to automobile alignment, tires, and suspension. Repairing and maintaining roads in a safe and passable condition strain state and county budgets in Michigan. Road damage is often more prevalent after a harsh winter when the road budget has been exhausted on road clearing and deicing; and

            Whereas, The federal motor fuel tax collects for the Federal Highway Trust Fund about 18 cents of the price of every gallon of gas sold in Michigan. A complicated formula administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and congressional earmarks allocates this money to the states as federal aid for highways. Michigan has received only between 87 and 92 percent of the share of the tax revenue that it has generated for the fund in recent years, while some states receive more than their proportionate share. Michigan has been a "donor" state, in effect subsidizing transportation projects in other states to the detriment of our own pot-holed highways and crumbling bridges; and

            Whereas, While federal funding cannot be used for routine or reactive maintenance, the annual destruction of Michigan roads from repeatedly freezing and thawing makes capital improvement projects on federal-aid eligible highways necessary more often. Each state has different road conditions which weather affects. Climate should be a factor in the allocation of federal road funding; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize Congress to incorporate into federal road funding distribution formulas appropriate consideration of the impact that climate has on highways; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.