GLIN==> U.S. House Committee Endorses Great Lakes Restoration in Budget

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
 
U.S. House Committee Endorses Great Lakes Restoration in Budget
 
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 26, 2009)—The U.S. House Committee on the
Budget last night passed its budget resolution that calls for a
commitment to restore the Great Lakes—largest surface fresh water source
in the world.
 
“This budget resolution charts a path for congressional action to
restore the Great Lakes and revive the economy,” said Tom Kiernan,
president of the National Parks Conservation Association and co-chair of
the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We look forward to the
full House and Senate passing a budget that advances Great Lakes
restoration and economic recovery before the problems get worse and the
solutions more costly.”
 
Budget committee members Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Gwen Moore
(D-Wis.) and Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) led the effort to include
Great Lakes restoration funding in the budget resolution, which sets the
framework for federal appropriations for the year.
 
“The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition applauds Reps. Kaptur,
Moore and Slaughter for making Great Lakes restoration a priority in the
congressional budget process,” said Andy Buchsbaum, regional executive
director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes office and
co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This budget
resolution sets the stage for strong federal action to restore the lakes
and revive the economy. It’s imperative that Congress close the deal and
fund these successful programs.”
 
“The Great Lakes are a prized natural resource and a significant
economic engine for our country,” said Rep. Slaughter. “By investing in
the protection and restoration of this national treasure, we will not
only preserve the lakes for future generations but create jobs and
bolster regional communities, industries, and economies. As co-chair of
the Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to support a serious commitment
to defend the Great Lakes and strengthen our economy.”  
 
In February President Barack Obama released his proposed budget,
including a precedent-setting $475 million Great Lakes restoration fund
to address problems such as invasive species, habitat loss, and toxic
pollution.  
 
Since that announcement, House leaders have urged for the inclusion of
the new restoration fund in the Congressional budget. Great Lakes Task
Force members from Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin today sent a letter to House Budget Committee Chairman John
Spratt, Jr. (D-S.C.) and ranking member Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), urging for
the inclusion of lake restoration funding in the budget resolution.
 
Signatories to the letter include: Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), John Conyers
(D-Mich.), Kathy Dahlkemper (D-Pa.), John D. Dingell (D-Mich.), Vernon
Ehlers (R-Mich.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Peter
Hoekstra (R-Mich.), Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-Mich.),
Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Dennis J., Kucinich (D-Ohio),
Steven C. LaTourette (R-Ohio), Chris Lee (R-N.Y.), Sander M. Levin
(D-Mich.), Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), Thomas
Petri (R-Wis.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Mark Schauer (D-Mich.), Louise M.
Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), and Betty Sutton (D-Ohio).
 
Read the letter at:
http://www.healthylakes.org/site_upload/upload/HouseGLTFBudgetLtr_2009.pdf

 
“Fully funding the President’s request will be a big step forward in
the multi-year effort to restore the Great Lakes and revive the economy,”
said Jill Ryan executive director of Freshwater Future and co-chair of
the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We need to make sure that
the momentum being generated in the halls of Congress and the White
House to restore the lakes lead to on-the-ground results for the
millions of people who depend on the Great Lakes for their jobs,
drinking water and public health 365 days a year.”
 
U.S. House members who serve on the Committee on Budget include: Reps.
Kaptur, Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Moore, Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Jim Jordan
(R-Ohio) and Steve Austria (R-Ohio). The full House of Representatives
is expected to vote on the budget resolution next week.
 
According to the Brookings Institution, an investment of $26 billion to
restore the Great Lakes will lead to at least $50 billion in economic
benefit for the region.
 
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition consists of more than 100
zoos, aquariums, museums, and hunting, fishing, and environmental
organizations representing millions of people, whose common goal is to
restore and protect the Great Lakes.
 
For more information visit: http://www.healthylakes.org/ 
 
For Immediate Release:
March 26, 2009
 
Contact:
Jordan Lubetkin, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, (734)
887-7109, lubetkin at nwf.org 
 

 
 
 
Jordan Lubetkin
Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation - Great Lakes Office
213 West Liberty, Suite 200 | Ann Arbor, MI 48104
 
Phone: 734-887-7109 | Fax: 734-887-7199 | Cell: 734-904-1589
 
NWF's mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our
children's future. www.nwf.org/news/ 
 
Working to restore the Great Lakes by offering solutions to sewage
contamination, invasive species and other threats. www.healthylakes.org
( http://www.healthylakes.org/ )
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