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Cities Initiative Applauds U.S. Federal Investment in
Great Lakes (March
4, 2009) -- The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative applauds the
recent steps by President Barack Obama and Congress to invest in the Great
Lakes, the economic and natural resource foundation for a large part of the
United States and Canada. These include the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act passed by Congress and the President’s 2010 budget provisions, which
include $475 million for the Great Lakes and large increases for water infrastructure. "We
have been working hard to get Washington to understand how vital the Great
Lakes are to the quality of life and economic well being of tens of millions of
people," said Mayor Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago and Founding U.S.
Chair of the Cities Initiative. "These investments will not only go
a long way towards protecting and restoring this important natural resource,
but will also put people back to work and spur economic development." The
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide $6 billion in water and
wastewater infrastructure money, over 30% of which is likely to come to the
Great Lakes region. This funding begins the process of reducing the $70
billion plus wastewater infrastructure deficit estimated by U.S. EPA. Mayor
George Heartwell of Grand Rapids, Vice Chair of the Cities Initiative added,
“Local governments along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence have been
investing over $15 billion annually to protect and restore the resource, and it
is good to see the Federal government finally increasing its commitment.” The President’s Budget for 2010
includes $475 million for the Great Lakes specifically, and increases the
funding for water infrastructure nationally to $3.9 billion. The funding for
the Great Lakes would be by far the largest amount ever dedicated to this
global freshwater resource. The Great Lakes funding is designed to help
implement the 2005 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. Included would
be work on invasive species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated
sediments. The Cities Initiative plans to work with federal, state, and tribal
representatives to steer the funding to those areas most needing attention and
where it can do the most good for the resource. "President
Obama has made a clear commitment to the protection and restoration of the
Great Lakes," said Toronto Mayor David Miller, Canadian Founding Chair of
the Cities Initiative. "While Prime Minister Stephen Harper's 2009 budget
makes headway on investments in infrastructure, it does not provide
the direct funding needed to safeguard the future of the Great Lakes and
St. Lawrence River." Mayors
from the Cities Initiative are calling on Canada's federal government to
strengthen its investment in these life-sustaining natural resources to ensure
progress is made on both sides of the border. “It was promising that President
Obama’s first international trip was to Canada to meet with Prime
Minister Harper,” said Mayor Lynn Peterson, Mayor of Thunder Bay and
current Cities Initiative Chair. “It is my hope that the leaders of our
two countries begin a dialogue specifically about the Great Lakes and St.
Lawrence River. This vital freshwater system must be a national priority for
both countries.” Press
Contacts:
Melissa
A. Soline Program
Manager Great
Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative 177
North State Street, Suite 500 Chicago,
Illinois 60601 Phone
312.201.4517 Fax
312.553.4355 |