GLIN==> President Obama Signs Great Lakes Restoration Initiative into Law

In the vein of--it's never too late to celebrate good news--I wanted to
share with you the following press release from the Healing Our
Waters-Great Lakes Coalition on President Obama's historic signing of
the $475 million Great Lakes restoration initiative.
Jordan
 
President Obama Signs Great Lakes Restoration Initiative into Law
 
Historic Initiative Propels Restoration, Economic Recovery Forward
 
ANN ARBOR, MICH.—President Obama signed into law on Friday a historic
$475 million initiative to address urgent threats to the Great Lakes—the
largest supply of surface fresh water in the world.
 
“With one stroke of his pen, President Obama has propelled Great Lakes
restoration and economic recovery forward,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign
director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This is a
great day for anyone who cares about clean beaches, safe drinking water,
and abundant fish and wildlife populations. This is a victory for the
millions of people, businesses and communities which rely on the Great
Lakes for their jobs, drinking water and way of life.”
 
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will receive $475 million as
part of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2010. The new
initiative will nearly double funding for lake restoration programs in
the eight states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York,
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
 
The initiative invests in solutions to stop aquatic invasive species
that cost the region at least $200 million annually in damage and
control costs; clean up contaminated sediments that pose a threat to the
health of people and wildlife; and restore wetlands and other habitat
that protect water quality, prevent flooding and provide the foundation
of the region’s outdoor economy.
 
President Obama proposed the $475 million Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative in his inaugural budget to uphold a commitment he made as a
presidential candidate to invest $5 billion to restore the lakes. 
 
“President Obama’s commitment to the Great Lakes,” said Skelding, “is
starting to pay dividends.”
 
“The Great Lakes delegation at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue got
this done,” continued Skelding.  “There are so many people whose
leadership we want to applaud starting with our Great Lakes leaders like
Chairman Obey and stalwarts like Sens. Levin and Voinovich.  What
they’ve done is provide a significant down-payment in what we hope to
be a sustained commitment to protect and restore the largest surface
freshwater resource on the planet. Our job now is to roll up our sleeves
and get to work. We know what needs to be done. Now it’s time to do
it.”
 
The U.S. Congress funded the initiative, led by Sens. Carl Levin
(D-Mich.), George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.); and House
Committee on Appropriations Chairman Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.), along
with Reps. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), John Dingell (D-Mich.), Marcy Kaptur
(D-Ohio), Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Vern
Ehlers (R-Mich.) and Congressional members from the Great Lakes states
serving on House and Senate appropriations committees and Great Lakes
Task Force.
 
U.S. House Appropriations Committee members from the eight-state Great
Lakes region include: Reps. Obey, Chaka Fattah (D-Penn.), Maurice D.
Hinchey (D-N.Y.), Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.), Steve Israel (D-N.Y.),
Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-Mich.), Mark Kirk
(R-Ill.), Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), Nita M. Lowey (D-N.Y.), Betty
McCollum (D-Minn.), John P. Murtha (D-Penn.), Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), José
Serrano (D-N.Y.) and Peter Visclosky (D-Ind.).
 
Senate Appropriations Committee members from the region include Sens.
Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Arlen Specter (D-Penn.),
and Voinovich.
 
The Brookings Institution found that the eight-state region of
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin stands to gain at least $2 in economic benefit for every $1
invested in Great Lakes restoration.
 
“The Obama Administration and Congress are making a solid investment in
the economy and environment,” said Skelding. “The Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative establishes a solid foundation on which our
nation and region can continue to invest the necessary funds and enact
the necessary policies to restore and protect our lakes, boost our
economy, safeguard our public health, and uphold our way of life.”
 
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition consists of more than 100
environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos,
aquariums and museums 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:
November 5, 2009
 
Contact:
Jordan Lubetkin, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition,
734-887-7109
Jeff Skelding, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, 410-245-8021
Chad Lord, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, 202-454-3385
 
 
Jordan Lubetkin - Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation
Great Lakes Regional Center
213 W. Liberty St., Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-1398
www.nwf.org/greatlakes 
www.healthylakes.org ( http://www.healthylakes.org/ )

Phone: (734) 887-7109 
Cell: (734) 904-1589

Inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
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