GLIN==> Senate Committee Endorses $475 Million for Great Lakes Restoration in Budget

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
 
Senate Committee Endorses $475 Million for Great Lakes Restoration in
Budget
 
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 27, 2009)—The U.S. Senate Budget Committee
yesterday passed its budget resolution that calls for a commitment of
$475 million to restore the Great Lakes—the 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.”
 
Senate Budget Committee member Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) 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 Sen. Stabenow
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.”
 
“Our Great Lakes are an inseparable part of our history and culture,
and provide us with an economic resource unique to our region,” said
Sen. Stabenow. “That’s why I was proud to lead the effort and outline
critical funding to combat the key threats facing our lakes and our way
of life. I will continue to work closely with President Obama and his
administration to make sure that the commitment made toward the Great
Lakes becomes a reality.”
 
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, Senate leaders have urged for the inclusion of
the new restoration fund in the Congressional budget. Great Lakes Task
Force members from Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin sent a letter to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad
(D-N.D.) and ranking member Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), urging for the
inclusion of lake restoration funding in the budget resolution.
 
Signatories to the letter include Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick
Durbin (D-Ill.), Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.),
Carl Levin (D-Mich.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.),
Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio).
 
Read the letter at:
http://www.healthylakes.org/site_upload/upload/SenateGLTFBudgetLtr_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 results for the millions of people
who depend on the Great Lakes for their jobs, drinking water and public
health 365 days a year.”
 
Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-Wis.) also sits on the Senate Budget
Committee. The full Senate 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 27, 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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