GLIN==> Action on the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

 <http://www.glc.org> Great Lakes Commission News Briefs



  

June 12, 2009 



Action on the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
On the heels of the Administration's announcement that Cameron Davis will
serve as a special advisor to the U.S. EPA to oversee the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior
and Environment this week approved the full $475 million requested for the
Initiative. Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (WI) and
Representative Steve LaTourette (OH), member of the Subcommittee, were
especially helpful. The bill now moves to the full committee next week and
may be considered by the full House of Representatives before the end of the
month.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior and Environment is
expected to begin work on its appropriations bill next week. 

 

In collaboration with other regional partners, the Great Lakes Commission
continues to work with Congress to support full funding for the Initiative.
The Commission worked closely with committee staff to address issues
concerning implementation of the initiative and ensuring that long range
planning for Great Lakes protection and restoration continues to be grounded
in strong science. On Tuesday, June 9, a coalition of 15 Great Lakes
organizations submitted a letter to Great Lakes Senators requesting support
for the President's $475 million proposal. On June 2, a briefing on the
initiative was held with congressional staff in Washington, D.C. Presenters
included Todd Ambs, administrator for water at Wisconsin Dept. of Natural
Resources; Joy Mulinex, director of the Great Lakes Congressional Task
Force; Chad Lord policy director for the Healing Our WatersR-Great Lakes
Coalition; Tim Eder, executive director of the Great Lakes Commission and
Gary Gulezian, director of the U.S.EPA Great Lakes National Program Office;
The briefing provided an opportunity to answer questions, engage Congress in
supporting the initiative, and emphasize that the region is united and ready
for implementation. Materials from the briefing, including a fact sheet and
answers to frequently asked questions on the restoration initiative, are
available at www.glc.org/advocacy. 

 

On June 3, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a
hearing on the proposed U.S.EPA budget. Witness testimony was provided by
Michael Shapiro, acting assistant administrator, U.S. EPA Office of Water.
Details on the hearing including testimony are available on the committee
website. 

For more information:

*	Great Lakes Commission Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions on
the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative:
www.glc.org/advocacy/index.html#restoration
*	Letter to Senate Great Lakes Delegation, signed by 15 Great Lakes
organizations: www.glc.org/advocacy/documents/GLRI group
<http://www.glc.org/advocacy/documents/GLRI%20group%20letter_Final_Generic.p
df>  letter_Final_Generic.pdf
*	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative: www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/index.html
<http://epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/index.html> 
*	House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee budget hearing:
transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=914

Contact: Tim Eder, teder at glc.org.


  _____  

Great Lakes Commission
2805 S. Industrial Hwy, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-6791
734-971-9135
www.glc.org

 

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