SB 10: REBUILDING AMERICAN DOMINANCE

Senate Bill 10 – The Tri-Cities Maritime Revival Act

 

A BILL

To enact the Tri-Cities Maritime Revival Act, leveraging a $8 million federal grant to revive and dominate shipbuilding, offshore oil, natural gas, and commercial fishing in Michigan’s 35th Senate District through deregulation, infrastructure upgrades, and Energy3 decentralized power, while halting corporate pollution and holding Dow Chemical accountable for dioxin contamination in the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers—without new taxes.

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THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

Section 1. Short Title
This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Tri-Cities Maritime Revival Act.”

 

Section 2. Purpose
To restore American dominance in the Tri-Cities (Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City) within Michigan’s 35th Senate District by:
(a) Leveraging the $8 million federal MARAD grant awarded October 16, 2025, to LEO and MMMI for shipbuilding and maritime workforce training.
(b) Deregulating to expand offshore oil, natural gas, commercial fishing, and shipbuilding beyond historical levels.
(c) Allocating $4–6 million in state matching funds from budget surplus to create 500 new jobs in Year 1, scaling to 2,000 by 2030.
(d) Halting Dow Chemical’s pollution and cleaning the Tittabawassee and Saginaw Rivers to support safe fishing and energy operations.
(e) Piloting Energy3 decentralized power to eliminate electric bills at shipyards, rigs, and ports.
(f) Ensuring no new taxes—funded by state surplus, federal grants, and Dow fines.

 

Section 3. Definitions
(a) “Tri-Cities” – Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City within the 35th Senate District.
(b) “MARAD Grant” – The $8 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration to LEO and MMMI.
(c) “Energy3” – Decentralized, onsite power generation technology producing unlimited clean energy, eliminating ongoing electric bills.
(d) “Revival Fund” – The dedicated fund established under this act.
(e) “Waterway Pollution” – Dioxin and industrial contaminants in the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River, and Saginaw Bay (Superfund site since 1983).

 

Section 4. State Matching Funds and Deregulation
(a) Allocates $4–6 million from FY 2026 state budget surplus to match the MARAD grant.
(b) Deregulates EGLE permitting by 50% for:

• Offshore oil/gas platforms

• Commercial fishing fleets

• Shipyard construction and expansion
  (c) Funds prioritized for shipbuilding apprenticeships, welding, vessel assembly, and rig operations at Delta College and Saginaw Valley State University.
  (d) Administered by LEO in coordination with MMMI.

 

Section 5. Tri-Cities Maritime Task Force
(a) Establishes a bipartisan Tri-Cities Maritime Task Force (9 members):

• 3 from LEO/MMMI

• 3 from shipbuilding, oil, gas, and fishing industries

• 3 elected officials from Midland, Saginaw, and Bay City
  (b) Duties:

• Prioritize 200 trainees in Year 1

• Attract private shipyard investment

• Develop shipbuilding dominance strategy
  (c) Chair: Appointed by the Senator of the 35th District.
  (d) Meetings: Quarterly, open to the public.

 

Section 6. Workforce and Industry Revival
(a) Trains 300–400 workers annually in:

• Advanced shipbuilding (hull construction, outfitting)

• Offshore rig operations

• LNG processing

• Commercial fishing fleet management
  (b) Attracts $20–30 million in federal funds (BOEM, MARAD, Infrastructure Act) for:

• New shipyards

• Drilling platforms

• Fishing port upgrades
  (c) Dredges Saginaw River to support heavy ship traffic and reduce toll bridge dependency.

 

Section 7. Waterway Cleanup and Polluter Accountability
(a) Allocates $5 million from the Revival Fund to remove dioxins from the Tittabawassee River, Saginaw River, and Saginaw Bay.
(b) Halts Dow Chemical discharges with zero-tolerance permits.
(c) Imposes $2 million fine per violation.
(d) Mandates Dow fund 75% of cleanup costs ($3.75 million minimum), enforced by EGLE with court-ordered asset liens for non-compliance.
(e) Cleanup enables safe commercial fishing and energy operations.

 

Section 8. Energy3 Pilot Program
(a) Allocates $2 million to pilot Energy3 decentralized power units at:

• Shipyards

• Offshore rigs

• Fishing ports
  (b) Eliminates electric bills for maritime operations.
  (c) Positions Michigan as the national leader in energy-independent industry.

 

Section 9. Economic and Security Metrics
(a) Targets:

• 500 jobs in Year 1

• 2,000 jobs by 2030

• 10% GDP growth in maritime/energy sector

• Unemployment below 4% in 35th District

• 50% reduction in dioxin levels by 2030
  (b) Annual public reports to constituents.

 

Section 10. Funding Assurance
(a) No new taxes or fees.
(b) Funded by:

• State budget surplus

• Federal MARAD/BOEM grants

• Dow Chemical fines and cleanup contributions
  (c) LEO to pursue additional federal funding.

 

Section 11. Severability
If any provision is held invalid, the remainder shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 12. Effective Date
This act takes effect January 1, 2027, upon passage and the Governor’s signature, with Tri-Cities pilot programs launching immediately.