Act No. 225

Public Acts of 2003

Approved by the Governor

December 3, 2003

Filed with the Secretary of State

December 3, 2003

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 3, 2003

STATE OF MICHIGAN

92ND LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2003

Introduced by Senators Thomas, Garcia, Basham, Clark-Coleman, Clarke and Goschka

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 352

AN ACT to designate March 31 of each year as Cesar E. Chavez day in the state of Michigan; to designate July 14 of each year as President Gerald R. Ford day in the state of Michigan; and to designate July 30 of each year as Henry Ford day in the state of Michigan.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes the fundamental contribution that Cesar E. Chavez made to this nation by organizing farm workers to campaign for safe and fair working conditions, reasonable wages, decent housing, and the outlawing of child labor. Cesar E. Chavez began working in the fields of Arizona and California at the age of 10. Profoundly influenced by these humble beginnings, Chavez embraced the nonviolent principles of Mohandas Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to crusade against racial and economic discrimination, coordinate voter registration drives, and found the united farm workers of America. In 1994, Chavez was posthumously awarded the presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to civilians by the United States government. In memory of this great American, the legislature declares that March 31 of each year shall be known as "Cesar E. Chavez Day".

(2) The legislature encourages each individual in the great state of Michigan to pause on Cesar E. Chavez day and reflect upon the courage and sacrifice of a man Robert Kennedy once referred to as "one of the heroic figures of our time".

Sec. 2. (1) The legislature recognizes the exceptional contributions to American life, history, and leadership made by Gerald R. Ford, the thirty-eighth president of the United States and the only United States president from Michigan, who for decades has served the United States and the state of Michigan. For much of his life, President Ford resided in Grand Rapids. He attended South high school in Grand Rapids and the university of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He served with distinction as a member of the United States house of representatives, vice president of the United States, and president of the United States. Among numerous other awards and honors, President Ford has received the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the nation, and the Congressional Gold Medal for his "dedicated public service and outstanding humanitarian contributions". In commemoration of the significant role Gerald R. Ford has played in the history of the state of Michigan and our nation, the legislature declares that July 14 of each year shall be known as "President Gerald R. Ford Day".

(2) The legislature encourages each individual in the great state of Michigan to pause on President Gerald R. Ford day and reflect upon the significance of President Ford's leadership and important contributions to the history of the state of Michigan and to the history of this great nation.

Sec. 3. (1) The legislature recognizes the outstanding contributions to American life, history, and culture made by Henry Ford, founder of Ford motor company and a man of great vision. During most of his life, Henry Ford resided in Dearborn. He pioneered industrial mass production methods and made an automobile that was affordable for his workers. The Ford motor company debuted the Model T in 1908; by 1918, fully half of all cars sold in America were Model Ts. In 1910, Ford opened a large automobile factory in Highland Park; later, he introduced the moving assembly line. This innovation reduced costs, increased production, and revolutionized industrial manufacturing in the United States and abroad. In honor of the significant role Henry Ford has played in the history of the state of Michigan and the United States, the legislature declares that July 30 of each year shall be known as "Henry Ford Day".

(2) The legislature encourages each individual in the great state of Michigan to pause on Henry Ford day and reflect upon the significance of Henry Ford's contributions to the history of the state of Michigan and to the history of this great nation.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate

Clerk of the House of Representatives

Approved

Governor