Michigan-Canada Partnership Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7492 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7492

To prohibit Federal interference with the opening and operation of the 
                   Gordie Howe International Bridge.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 11, 2026

 Mrs. Dingell (for herself, Ms. Stevens, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. 
Scholten, Ms. McDonald Rivet, and Ms. Kaptur) introduced the following 
 bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in 
 addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Homeland Security, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To prohibit Federal interference with the opening and operation of the 
                   Gordie Howe International Bridge.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Michigan-Canada Partnership Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Gordie Howe International Bridge will be a critical 
        piece of United States transportation, trade, and national 
        security infrastructure connecting Detroit, Michigan, and 
        Windsor, Ontario, and linking the economies of the United 
        States and Canada.
            (2) The Detroit-Windsor crossing is the busiest commercial 
        land border crossing in North America, facilitating the 
        movement of passenger vehicles, freight, and supply chains 
        essential to manufacturing, agriculture, and energy production 
        in the United States.
            (3) Trade between the United States and Canada supports 
        hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic activity, 
        including a substantial share of U.S. automotive, advanced 
        manufacturing, and agricultural trade that flows through 
        Michigan.
            (4) Michigan and Canada are longstanding economic partners, 
        particularly in the automotive sector, where integrated supply 
        chains depend on reliable, secure, and efficient cross-border 
        infrastructure.
            (5) In 2012, the State of Michigan and the Government of 
        Canada entered into a bilateral agreement to advance 
        construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, under 
        which Michigan and Canada share ownership, with Canada 
        financing construction without direct cost to Michigan 
        taxpayers.
            (6) That agreement was executed under Republican Governor 
        Rick Snyder and with the cooperation of Democratic President 
        Barack Obama, reflecting bipartisan recognition of the 
        crossing's importance to American workers, manufacturers, and 
        national competitiveness.
            (7) Construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge 
        began in 2018 and has proceeded pursuant to valid Federal 
        approvals, permits, and authorizations.
            (8) During his first term, President Donald Trump publicly 
        acknowledged the importance of the Gordie Howe International 
        Bridge through a joint statement with Canadian Prime Minister 
        Justin Trudeau that said they ``look forward to the expeditious 
        completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will 
        serve as a vital economic link between our two countries.''
            (9) The Gordie Howe International Bridge will enhance 
        resiliency and increase capacity at the northern border by 
        complementing existing crossings, improving freight 
        reliability, and reducing congestion and economic risk 
        associated with reliance on a single crossing.
            (10) Any unilateral Federal action to interfere with the 
        opening or operation of the Gordie Howe International Bridge 
        would harm American workers, manufacturers, farmers, and 
        consumers, disrupt integrated North American supply chains, and 
        undermine the longstanding partnership between Michigan and 
        Canada.
            (11) Congress has an interest in ensuring that the Gordie 
        Howe International Bridge is opened and operated in a timely 
        manner consistent with existing agreements, valid permits, and 
        the national economic and security interests of the United 
        States.

SEC. 3. PROHIBITION.

    (a) Prohibition on Interference With the Gordie Howe International 
Bridge.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal 
officials, including the President, shall by any means impede the 
opening of or attempt the closure of the Gordie Howe International 
Bridge and its associated port of entry unless approved by an Act of 
Congress or requested by the Governor of Michigan.
    (b) Affirmative Duty To Facilitate Operation.--Federal agencies 
with jurisdiction over the Gordie Howe International Bridge or its 
associated port of entry shall take all actions necessary to ensure the 
timely opening and continuous operation of the bridge and port of 
entry.
            (1) Continuous operation.--For purposes of this subsection, 
        ``continuous operation'' means in accordance with the staffing 
        and operational models required by relevant Federal agencies, 
        including the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Workforce 
        Staffing Model.
    (c) Prohibited Delay Tactics.--No Federal official may impede, 
delay, condition, or otherwise interfere with the bridge or port of 
entry through action or inaction, including by failing to take timely 
and necessary steps to carry out Federal responsibilities.
    (d) Judicial Review.--The State of Michigan or any affected local 
government may bring an action in a United States District Court to 
compel compliance with this section.
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