MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Pickering, Harvey, Hyde-Smith, Thames, Hewes, Morgan, Walley, Dearing
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT LEGISLATION DIRECTING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IMPLEMENT THE STEPS AND FUNDING NECESSARY TO CONSTRUCT THE PROPOSED INTERSTATE-14 AND TO PRESCRIBE THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED ROUTE ALONG U.S. HIGHWAY 84.
WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi and Congressman Chip Pickering are sponsoring companion legislation calling for the study and immediate report on proposals to construct a new interstate highway between Natchez, Mississippi, and Augusta, Georgia, intersecting Laurel, Mississippi, and Montgomery, Alabama; and
WHEREAS, in light of the promise of economic parity made by the United States to that region in the 14th Amendment, that new interstate highway is to be known as the "14th Amendment Highway," or Interstate-14; and
WHEREAS, the legislation directs the United States Department of Transportation to complete the report by the end of the calendar year, describe the steps and estimated funding necessary to construct I-14, and specifically lays out the proposed route between Augusta and Natchez, via Laurel, Mississippi, Montgomery, Alabama, Macon and Columbus, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, this legislation cites the significant economic impact such an interstate would have upon South Mississippi and Alabama and cites the lack of an adequate east/west interstate through this region as a current impediment to job creation and public safety; and
WHEREAS, just as building Interstate-69 through the Mississippi Delta will provide economic momentum for this challenged region, I-14 will intersect another economically depressed area of our country--central Alabama and Mississippi. In Mississippi, the Waynesboro- Laurel corridor along US Highway 84 has tremendous potential for additional growth which I-14 could help bring. The beautiful Natchez area needs interstate access and better transportation alternatives for industrial development and for enhancing its already vibrant tourism economy; and
WHEREAS, this new interstate along the US 84 corridor originally proposed will be the most important regional transportation projects of our generation:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby urge the United States Congress to enact legislation directing the U.S. Department of Transportation to complete its report on the steps and funding necessary, and to implement construction of the proposed Interstate-14, the "14th Amendment Highway," and to prescribe the originally proposed route of said interstate along U.S. Highway 84 between Natchez, Mississippi, and Augusta, Georgia, via Laurel, Mississippi.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be certified by the Secretary of State to the President of the United States, to members of Mississippi's congressional delegation and to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation.