Michigan Workers' Economic Prosperity Depends On Strong Trade and Transportation

LANSING, MI-The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today kicked off a nationwide grassroots and advocacy campaign on the critical role of trade and transportation to America's workers, consumers, and businesses.

In a speech to the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan State University International Business Center, Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber said, "We have to wake up to our growing infrastructure challenges and the importance of opening up our markets if Michigan is going to remain competitive globally. We cannot effectively move people and goods with overcongested airports and ports, as well as crumbling roads and bridges."

The Lansing event marks the kickoff of a campaign to raise awareness of the important roles that a strong infrastructure and open trade policies play in our nation's economic well-being. The campaign combines the Chamber's multimillion-dollar Let's Rebuild America initiative with the organization's TradeRoots program, which helps educate small and medium-size businesses on the benefits of trade.

Michigan Transportation Fact: Vehicle travel has increased by 27% from 1990 to 2004-jumping from more than 81 billion vehicle miles traveled in 1990 to more than 103 billion vehicle miles in 2004. At the same time, total lane miles increased by 4 %. The resulting delays from bottlenecks cost Michigan consumers more than $32 an hour due to congestion, unnecessary fuel usage, and lost time and productivity, according to the American Highway Users Alliance and the American Trucking Associations.

Michigan Trade Fact: Michigan exports $37.6 billion in manufactured goods to the world. Eighty-eight percent of the 12,100 Michigan businesses that sell their products overseas are small and medium-size companies. With a stable transportation infrastructure in place, Michigan can improve the efficient and safe movement of goods and people, and consumers will benefit from lower prices and greater.

"You can't move goods in and out of your state without a strong infrastructure," continued Donohue. "Our job is to get everyone talking, identify legislation to spur investment in transportation, and open more doors for businesses so that they can take advantage of opportunities to sell their products and services abroad."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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