IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 215
Honoring and congratulating chambers of commerce for their efforts that 
contribute to the improvement of communities and the strengthening 
of local and regional economies. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 11, 2003
Mr. KNOLLENBERG (for himself and Mr. DINGELL) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Honoring and congratulating chambers of commerce for their 
efforts that contribute to the improvement of commu-
nities and the strengthening of local and regional econo-
mies.
Whereas chambers of commerce throughout the United 
States contribute to the improvement of their commu-
nities and the strengthening of their local and regional 
economies; 
Whereas in the Detroit, Michigan area, the Detroit Regional 
Chamber, originally known as the Detroit Board of Com-
merce, typifies the public-spirited contributions made by 
the chambers of commerce;
•HCON 215 IH 
Whereas, on June 30, 1903, the Detroit Board of Commerce 
was formally organized with 253 charter members; 
Whereas the Detroit Board of Commerce played a prominent 
role in the formation of the United States Chamber of 
Commerce; 
Whereas the Detroit Board of Commerce participated in the 
‘‘Good Roads for Michigan’’ campaign in 1910 and 1911, 
helping to gain voter approval of a $2,000,000 bond pro-
posal to improve the roads of Wayne County, Michigan; 
Whereas, in 1925, the Safety Council of the Detroit Board 
of Commerce helped develop the first traffic lights in De-
troit; 
Whereas, in 1927, the Detroit Board of Commerce brought 
together all of the cities, villages, and townships in south-
east Michigan to tentatively establish boundaries for a 
metropolitan district for Detroit, embracing all or parts 
of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, and Washtenaw 
Counties at the request of the United States Census Bu-
reau in advance of the 1930 census; 
Whereas, in 1932, the Federal Home Loan Bank Board des-
ignated the Detroit Board of Commerce as the authorized 
agent for stock subscriptions in the Federal Home Loan 
Bank, as an early response to the Great Depression; 
Whereas, in 1945, the Detroit Board of Commerce promoted 
the extension of Victory Loans to veterans returning 
from service in the United States Armed Forces during 
World War II as a way of expressing gratitude for the 
veterans’ wartime service, and raised more than half of 
the total amount contributed in Wayne County, Michi-
gan;
•HCON 215 IH 
Whereas, in 1969, the Detroit Board of Commerce, then 
known as the Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce, 
was instrumental in the establishment of a bus network 
connecting inner-city workers with their jobs, which re-
sulted in the creation of the Southeast Metropolitan 
Transportation Authority, now known as SMART; 
Whereas the Detroit Board of Commerce has been known by 
several names during its century of existence, eventually 
becoming known as the Detroit Regional Chamber in No-
vember 1997; 
Whereas the Detroit Regional Chamber is the largest cham-
ber of commerce in the United States and has been in 
existence for over 100 years; 
Whereas more than 19,000 businesses across southeast 
Michigan have decided to make an initial investment in 
the Detroit Regional Chamber to help develop the region; 
Whereas the Detroit Regional Chamber has supported the 
concept of regionalism in southeast Michigan, rep-
resenting the concerns of businesses and the region as a 
whole; 
Whereas the mission of the Detroit Regional Chamber is to 
help power the economy of southeastern Michigan; 
Whereas the Detroit Regional Chamber successfully advocates 
public policy concerns on behalf of its members at the 
local, regional, State, and National levels; 
Whereas the Detroit Regional Chamber has implemented pro-
grams promoting diversity in its work force and has won 
recognition for such efforts; 
Whereas the Detroit Regional Chamber is committed to pro-
moting the interests of its members in the global market-
place through economic development efforts; and
•HCON 215 IH 
Whereas on June 30, 2003, the Detroit Regional Chamber 
celebrates its 100th anniversary: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress honors and congratulates 
chambers of commerce for their efforts that contribute to 
the improvement of their communities and the strength-
ening of their local and regional economies.
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