Pontiac Times

The Michigan House of Representatives has approved a bill to rename a section of M-150 in Oakland County in honor of former U.S. Rep. William Broomfield, who served in Congress for 36 years. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Mark Tisdel, aims to rename a stretch of the highway as the “William S. Broomfield Memorial Highway.”

Tisdel, speaking about Broomfield's legacy, stated, “Thirty-six years in Congress, 32 years as ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, he was part of the SALT talks under Reagan – Broomfield was an instrumental player.” He highlighted Broomfield's ability to work across the aisle effectively, even during years when Democrats controlled Congress.

Broomfield, a WWII veteran who passed away in 2019 at the age of 96, was the longest actively serving Republican representative at the time of his retirement. Tisdel emphasized the significance of the renaming, pointing out that the Van Hoosen Museum, which houses Broomfield’s documents, is located in the vicinity of the highway section to be renamed.

Tisdel also reflected on the changes in Michigan's congressional representation over the years, noting the decline in the number of representatives from the state. He said, “Having 19 U.S. representatives was the high-water mark of our state’s strength in Congress. Today, we only have 13 members of Congress, which just shows a tremendous amount of stagnation relative to the population growth of other states.”

The proposed renaming of the highway is seen as a tribute to Broomfield's service and a reminder of the importance of striving for excellence. Tisdel urged for continued efforts to improve the state, stating, “Michigan has an uncompetitive average January temperature, so every other feature of life in the state has to be the best in the nation. Let’s work like Congressman Broomfield would have toward that goal.”

House Bill 4705, which was approved by the House, will now advance to the Senate for further consideration.