GLIN==> Great Lakes Commission hails President Obama's $475 million Great Lakes Initiative

For immediate release: May 7, 2009 
 <http://www.glc.org/announce/09/05maybudget.html>
http://www.glc.org/announce/09/05maybudget.html 

Ann Arbor, Mich. – President Barack Obama’s vision for Great Lakes
restoration gained more clarity with the release today of additional detail
on a FY10 spending plan for $475 million in restoration and protection
programs for the lakes. The Great Lakes Commission hails the President’s new
“Great Lakes Restoration Initiative” and the needed funding that it will
provide to restore the lakes and kick-start the regional economy.

The Initiative will be led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.
EPA) and will target five strategic priorities: aquatic invasive species;
toxic pollution and Areas of Concern; nonpoint source pollution and
nearshore health; habitat restoration; and monitoring and assessment.

“Now is the time to clean up the Great Lakes,” said Illinois Governor Pat
Quinn, chairman of the Great Lakes Commission. “I urge Congress to support
the President’s commitment to clean water by approving funding for this
important restoration initiative.”

Past planning efforts, including the 2005 Great Lakes Regional Collaboration
strategy, have comprehensively identified the lakes’ greatest problems. The
region is now aligned and unified to tackle them. Under the new initiative,
a portion of the $475 million will be channeled by the U.S. EPA through
interagency agreements to support federal programs, and a significant
portion is expected to be made available to states, cities, regional
organizations and nongovernment organizations.

Studies have indicated that state and municipal governments’ contributions
to Great Lakes protection programs significantly exceed those of the federal
government. Today’s proposal is a major step toward filling the gap and
matching the spending of the states and cities. Michigan Lieutenant Governor
John Cherry, former chair of the Commission, emphasized that the Great Lakes
are a vital asset for our region. “President Obama recognizes that restoring
and conserving the lakes will create jobs and strengthen our regional
economy,” Cherry said. “The President’s $475 million initiative is a wise
investment that will provide meaningful benefits for Michigan and the other
Great Lakes states.”

The economic benefits of Great Lakes restoration have been documented by a
study projecting more than $50 billion in long-term benefits – more than a 2
to1 return on investment. Last fall a coalition of metropolitan Chambers of
Commerce highlighted the need to restore the Great Lakes as part of a larger
agenda to create jobs and revitalize the economy in the Great Lakes region.

“The President’s budget and his Great Lakes Restoration Initiative show that
now is the time for action,” said Tim Eder, Great Lakes Commission executive
director. “If Congress approves the funding request, states, cities and
tribes will have additional resources to restore the Great Lakes. We urge
Congress to fund this proposal.”

The budget release this week fills in additional details of the $475 million
proposal announced in draft form in February. President Obama’s Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative and the rest of his Fiscal Year 2010 budget now go to
Congress where Appropriations committees will hold hearings starting next
week. The Great Lakes states are eager to accelerate their efforts in
partnership with the Administration and Congress to further develop joint
proposals related to Great Lakes restoration and protection. By working
collaboratively, solutions can be developed that best leverage existing
resources, efficiently deploy new funding, emphasize on-the-ground actions,
minimize paperwork, and ensure transparency and accountability. 

Contact: Tim Eder
Office: 734-971-9135
Cell: 734-604-7281
Email:  <mailto:teder at glc.org> teder at glc.org


Contact: Christine Manninen
Office: 734-971-9135
Cell: 734-560-8598
Email:  <mailto:teder at glc.org> manninen at glc.org 

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The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Gov. Patrick Quinn (Ill.), is an
interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and
dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high
quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents.
The Commission consists of governors' appointees, state legislators, and
agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for
Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of
Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving
U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies
and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann
Arbor, Michigan.

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