Reps. Franz, Barnett, Brown, Cotter, Crawford, Daley, Darany, Denby, Dianda, Driskell, Durhal, Geiss, Heise, Hooker, Howrylak, Kowall, Lamonte, LaVoy, Lipton, Pettalia, Poleski, Price, Roberts, Santana, Schmidt, Schor, Segal, Singh, Slavens, Tlaib and Zorn offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 247.

            A resolution to declare October 23, 2013, as School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day and October 21-25, 2013, as School Bus Safety Week in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, School bus drivers and all school transportation staff, including managers, monitors, trainers, mechanics, and dispatchers to our state's 17,000 school buses, make tremendous contributions to the safety of our young scholars; and

Whereas, Success in education is reliant on safe, secure, and efficient routes to school and school settings; and

Whereas, The safety record for school buses continues to surpass that of all other modes of transportation; and

Whereas, School bus drivers must undergo special training and maintain excellent driving records; and

Whereas, The safety and well-being of approximately 850,000 students in Michigan are dependent on school bus drivers and the school transportation team to get them to and from school and other events in a safe, dependable manner; and 

Whereas, The week of October 21-25, 2013, will be designated as National School Bus Safety Week and the Wednesday of that week will be designated as National School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day to acknowledge the importance of providing convenient and reliable transportation to students around the country; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare October, 23, 2013, as School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day and October 21-25, 2013, as School Bus Safety Week in the state of Michigan. We celebrate the daily commitment and contributions that school bus drivers, managers, trainers, monitors, mechanics, and dispatchers make for the sake of our youth, and support the goals and ideals of National Bus Safety Week and National School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day. We call upon the people of Michigan to recognize this occasion with appropriate ceremonies and programs in efforts to keep school bus safety a priority.