Katrina Richardson

SW 314
November 13, 2014

BILL ANALYSIS
There is a bill that has great significance for the city of Detroit. This bill has not been
given its recognition that it deserved until now. The title of this bill is First Michigan Colored
Infantry Regiment Memorial Highway. It is bill number 93 which will amend the Michigan
Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of highway I-375 within Wayne County. It will
be known as the 102nd United States Colored Troops Memorial Highway (Michigan Legislature
2014).
Bill
This bill was introduced on January 29, 2013 by Senator Coleman A. Young II. He was
in favor for this bill to be passed. The level of government that is being used for this bill is the
Michigan Senate. The Senate Committee held the meeting for transportation on Tuesday
September 13, 2014 at 12:30 pm; however, Senator Casperson adjourned the meeting at 1:09 pm,
without any further business or objections (Senate 2014). The bill was passed on November 6,
2014. It is said that it wouldnt have any fiscal impact on the state or local government
(Michigan Legislature 2014).

Committee
The Michigan Senate committee is who handled this bill which resided in Michigan. The
committee worked on the suggestion of the bill regarding a highway in Wayne County to be
named after a civil war regiment. The regiment consisted of black men who contributed their
services to the United States during the war (Michigan Legislature 2014).
Background
There were highways that were named after many people, police officers, and soldiers
that were killed in the line of duty; therefore naming a highway after the civil war regiment was a
suggestion to recognize the black troops who served this country.
In 1863, a man named Henry Barnes an editor of the Detroit Advertiser wanted to
organize the regiment of black troops in Michigan (Michigan Legislature 2014); later in August
of that same year, he was authorized to do so. The troops were transferred and moved from state
to state for example: Hilton Head North Carolina, Annapolis, Maryland and other places. There
were 1,673 men who served with the 102nd troops which 130 of them died. In October 1865, the
regiment was no longer in Detroit (Michigan Legislature 2014). This bill will have even greater
significance to the Detroit area when the highway is named and 11 of the troops who had served
in the regiment were buried at Elmwood cemetery in Detroit (Michigan Legislature 2014).
I support this bill because of its significance not only for Detroit, but for our country.
These were black troops that helped serve the United States. They should be recognized for the
great work that they have done.

Conclusion
This bill will be a great significant attribute to recognize our black troops who have
served our country. There are many people who never heard of this regiment and it is time that it
is acknowledge.
Keywords: Regiment, Infantry, Fiscal, Highways, Transportation

References
Michigan Legislature [Internet]. Memorial Highway. Cited 2014 November 13]. Available from
www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(2mdsq355xuqizbzoeoika23g))/documents/20132014/billanalysis/Senate/htm/2013-SFA-0093-A.htm
Senate [Internet]. Senate Committee. Cited 2014 November 13]. Available from:
http://www.senate.michigan.gov/committees/files/2014-SCM-TRANS-09-30-1.pdf