GLIN==> Great Lakes Day in Washington

[Kirk Haverkamp <kirkh@glc.org>]

For immediate release, March 1, 2004
Contact: Mike Donahue, Great Lakes Commission, 734-971-9135, 
mdonahue@glc.org


GREAT LAKES RESTORATION AND PROTECTION TO HAVE ITS DAY

Washington, D.C. — Members of Congress, legislative staff and Great 
Lakes leaders will focus on how to “Restore the Greatness!” to the 
world’s greatest system of freshwater on Wednesday, March 3 at Great 
Lakes Day in Washington, D.C.

This long-standing annual event provides a forum to examine Great Lakes 
issues and needs, and set the stage for legislative action. Speakers 
include U.S. Sens. Mike DeWine (OH) and Debbie Stabenow (MI), along with 
Rep. Thomas Reynolds (NY), all of whom will share their views on Great 
Lakes restoration and protection. Sam Speck, chair of the Great Lakes 
Commission, and Mayor Jane Campbell of Cleveland will offer perspectives 
from the region.

Other key officials in shaping Great Lakes policy will address such 
topics as managing water demands, controlling aquatic invasive species, 
and updating the binational Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Meeting 
agendas are available at www.glc.org/greatlakesday.

“Nature has blessed us with a truly phenomenal gift in the Great Lakes, 
but the lakes are hurting,” said Speck, who is also director of the Ohio 
Department of Natural Resources. “We need to reinvest in this resource 
and ‘Restore the Greatness’ for the benefit of our environment, our 
economy and our quality of life.”

The theme of this year’s event is “Restore the Greatness: Moving 
Forward!” The day begins with the Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast, 
co-sponsored by the Great Lakes Commission and the Northeast-Midwest 
Institute, followed by the Great Lakes Issues Briefing, sponsored by the 
Commission.

Among the day’s highlights will be the release of the Great Lakes 
Commission’s 2004 Great Lakes Program to Ensure Environmental and 
Economic Prosperity, an annual summary of federal legislative and 
appropriations priorities called for by the Commission’s membership. 
Among many other priorities, the Commission urges development of a 
comprehensive Great Lakes restoration program, through federal/state 
partnership; passage of the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act; and 
full funding of the Great Lakes Legacy Act in order to clean up toxic 
hot spots known as Areas of Concern.

The Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. in 
Room B-339/340 of the Rayburn House Office Building. It will be followed 
by the Great Lakes Issues Briefing, from 10:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m in Room 
902 of the Hart Senate Office Building.

Both events are open to the public. Space is limited and advance 
registration is required. Registration fees and deadlines will be waived 
for persons with valid media credentials, subject to advance 
registration and space availability. To register, see 
www.glc.org/greatlakesday or contact: Pat Gable, pegable@glc.org, 
734-971-9135.

Preliminary agendas are available online at www.glc.org/greatlakesday. 
Copies of the Great Lakes Program will be distributed at the issues 
briefing and will be available by request or online at 
www.glc.org/restore as of 1 p.m., March 3.

###

The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Samuel W. Speck (Ohio), is a 
nonpartisan, binational compact agency created by state and U.S. federal 
law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and 
high quality of life for the Great LakesSt. Lawrence region and its 
residents. The Commission consists of state legislators, agency 
officials and governors’ appointees from its eight member states. 
Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the 
signing of a “Declaration of Partnership.” The Commission maintains a 
formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, 
tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. 
The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.




* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
glin-announce is hosted by the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN):
http://www.great-lakes.net
To subscribe: http://www.glin.net/forms/glin-announce_form.html
To post a message: http://www.glin.net/forms/glin-announce_post.html
To search the archive: http://www.glin.net/lists/glin-announce/
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *