[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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