GLIN==> U.S. Congress Matches Obama Commitment to Great Lakes

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
 
For Immediate Release:
October 30, 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
 
U.S. Congress Matches Obama Commitment to Great Lakes
 
ANN ARBOR, MICH.—The U.S. Congress last night approved a
precedent-setting $475 million Great Lakes restoration initiative,
sending to President Obama a bill that essentially doubles funding for
programs that address some of the most urgent threats to the Great
Lakes—the largest supply of surface fresh water in the world.
 
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will receive $475 million as
part of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Act of 2010. 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
protects water quality, prevents flooding and is the foundation of the
region’s outdoor economy.
 
“This is a great day for the Great Lakes and the millions of people who
depend on them for their jobs and way of life,” said Tom Kiernan,
president of the National Parks Conservation Association and co-chair of
the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We applaud
Congress—especially the Great Lakes delegation—for passing this bill,
and we look forward to President Obama signing this into law so we can
get to work restoring this national icon.”
 
Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Rep. David
Obey (D-Minn.) and Great Lakes members on congressional appropriations
committees led the effort to fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative, put forward in President Obama’s inaugural budget. 
 
U.S. House Appropriations Committee members from the eight Great Lakes
states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin 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.
 
“Today’s Congressional action provides a tremendous boost to Great
Lakes restoration and economic recovery,” said Andy Buchsbaum, regional
executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes
Regional Center and co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes
Coalition. “People, businesses and communities will all benefit from a
healthy Great Lakes. We know what we need to do. We have the funds to do
it. Now it’s time to get to it, before the problems get worse and the
solutions get more costly.”
 
The Brookings Institution found that the eight-state Great Lakes region
stands to gain at least $2 in economic benefit for every $1 invested in
Great Lakes restoration.
 
Passage of the appropriations bill comes days after Great Lakes
congressional members sent letters to the House and Senate Subcommittees
on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations, urging
them to fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475
million.
 
Signatories to the senate letter included Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio),
Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Durbin, Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), Al Franken
(D-Minn.), Kristen Gillebrand (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Levin,
Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and Voinovich.
 
Signatories to the house letter included Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Judy
Biggert (R-Ill.), John Boccieri (D-Ohio), John Conyers (D-Mich.), Kathy
Dahlkemper (D-Pa.), John Dingell (D-Mich.), Vern Ehlers (R-Mich.), Keith
Ellison (D-Minn.), Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), Brian
Higgins (D-N.Y.), Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.), Steve Kagen (D-Wis.), Marcy
Kaptur (D-Ohio), Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), Ron Kind (D-Wis.), Mark Kirk
(R-Ill.), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), Christopher Lee (R-N.Y.), Sander
Levin (D-Mich.), Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), Dan Maffei (D-N.Y.), Eric Massa
(D-N.Y.), Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), Candice Miller (R-Mich.), Gwen
Moore (D-Wis.), Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tom Petri
(R-Wis.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), Tim Ryan
(D-Ohio), Mark Schauer (D-Mich.), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Bart Stupak
(D-Mich.), Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Peter Visclosky
(D-Ind.), and Charlie Wilson (D-Ohio).
 
“The nation is making a strong commitment to restore the Great Lakes,”
said Jill Ryan, executive director of Fresh Water Future and co-chair of
the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “This establishes a solid
foundation on which President Obama, the U.S. Congress and Great Lakes
states can build so that the nation and the region continue to invest
the necessary funds and pass the necessary policies to restore and
protect our lakes, our economy, and our way of life.”
 
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition consists of more than 110
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/ 
 
 
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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