Supporting Economic Growth & Opposing Foreign Agents Holding American Land

WHEREAS, The Genesee County Republican Party (GCRP) supports Michigan's future economic growth, as long as it does not degrade the environment, devalue property or threaten our national security. The GCRP promotes economic prosperity and development that provides quality jobs throughout Genesee County, Michigan, our state and the entirety of our great nation, and

WHEREAS, Unknown companies receive grants, tax breaks and tax incentives from quasi-governmental agencies (e.g., MSF, SOAR, MEDC, FGEA) and are allowed to hold purchase agreements and NDAs, which shield their activities from taxpayers and violates Article IV, Section 30 of the Michigan constitution of 1963, and

WHEREAS, The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), under the direction of the governor, promotes the development of mega sites (typically 1,000 acres) in agricultural and residential areas, in order to appeal to corporations (foreign and domestic) that plan to produce lithium-ion batteries. These projects will utilize farmland instead of the almost 600 abandoned industrial sites across the state, which means mega sites may in turn become the abandoned and contaminated industrial properties of the future. There are currently five mega sites under development in Michigan, with more to come, and

WHEREAS, The mega site in Green Charter Township in Mecosta County is being developed by the Chinese subsidiary Gotion, Inc., which poses a serious security risk to Michigan and to the entire country due to Gotion’s association with the Chinese Communist Party. The governor also did not require an environmental impact study (EIS) on the effect of semi-conductor or lithium battery plant toxicity, before signing over hundreds of millions of tax dollars. From 2009 to 2019, foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land has doubled, representing 35.2 million acres (about the size of Iowa) and constituting 2.7 percent of all farmlands, posing an increasing risk to the U.S. food supply, and

WHEREAS, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are not sustainable by the current electric grid, which is overloaded already, and pose the risk of toxic chemical leaks into Michigan aquifers and waterways, which would in turn affect the entire ecosystem. The EV manufacturing industry will consume millions of gallons of water from the Great Lakes, which may create water shortages for our farmers and residential communities and lower the water table. The increased manufacturing and presence of lithium-ion car batteries on our roads pose fire hazards and greater challenges for firefighters, so

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The GCRP does hereby call for:

1. Due diligence by our state legislators and local elected officials investigating the security risks posed by foreign corporations acquiring U.S. land.

2. Adherence to the Michigan constitution, requiring 2/3 supermajority vote of both chambers to authorize the expenditure of public funds for special interests and private entities.

3. Rejection of the arcane paradigm of ceding agricultural and residential lands to industrial development when there are other options available.

4. Prioritizing the redevelopment of former industrial sites throughout the State of Michigan.

5. Due diligence in conducting environmental impact studies when a manufacturing development is under consideration. ¬

This Resolution was unanimously adopted by the Genesee County Republican Party on Thursday, August 3, 2023.