GLIN==> Great Lakes Restoration Within Reach

Alliance for the Great Lakes

For Immediate Release                  
Thursday, May 7, 2009                                  
Contact: Cameron Davis, 312-939-0838 x222                                                      

Great Lakes Restoration Within Reach

CHICAGO – Responding to the inclusion of Great Lakes funding in today’s release of the White House’s final FY 2010 budget, the Alliance is declaring that Great Lakes restoration, after decades of effort, is within reach.

“For the first time since the federal Clean Water Act stemmed the damage to the Great Lakes in 1972, the ‘three Ps’ are finally aligning to bring the lakes back to life,” said Alliance President Cameron Davis. “We now have the policies, the political leadership and -- with today’s White House budget announcement -- the pecuniary investment.”

President Barack Obama’s administration today released his final FY10 budget, proposing $475 million for the Great Lakes.

The investment is intended to help deliver Great Lakes restoration results first called for in December 2005 as part of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. The strategy contains action steps for, among other things, reducing sewage overflows, keeping beaches open and clean, eliminating pollution, rehabilitating fish and wildlife habitat, and slamming the door on invasive species.

“Even with this money, each generation will have to do its part to keep the Great Lakes healthy,” said Davis. “Ever since the industrial revolution began in the Midwest 150 years ago, we’ve been playing catch-up to restore the lakes. Today’s budget announcement punches the accelerator to the floor so we can go from zero to 60 in record time.”

The White House budget represents the administration’s intent to put a “serious down payment” on pledges from last September, when the Obama-Biden campaign released a Great Lakes campaign plan to commit $5 billion toward Great Lakes restoration over 10 years.


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Formed in 1970, the Alliance for the Great Lakes is the oldest independent citizens' organization in North America. Its mission is to conserve and restore the world's largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife. More about the Alliance for the Great Lakes is online at www.greatlakes.org.



Susan Campbell
Communications Manager
Alliance for the Great Lakes
414-540-0699
Visit http://www.greatlakes.org



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