GLIN==> Great Lakes Commission News Briefs: Sept. 25, 2009

 <http://www.glc.org> Great Lakes Commission News Briefs



  

September 25, 2009 



Great Lakes Commission urges full funding for the Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative 

The Commission has urged Congressional appropriators to support full funding
of $475 million for President Obama's proposed Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative (GLRI). The House has provided the President's full request in
its appropriations bill for U.S. EPA, while the Senate has provided $400
million. In correspondence sent today, Commission Chair Gov. Pat Quinn asked
House and Senate appropriations leaders to adopt full funding for the GLRI,
as provided in the House bill, when they resolve differences between the two
chambers. Chairman Quinn noted that the GLRI will implement an existing
restoration plan that reflects the priorities of the Great Lakes governors,
and emphasized the high level of enthusiasm for the Initiative among the
states and other partners. After pointing out that the states have
identified high-priority restoration actions that are ready to be
implemented immediately, he concluded by saying "the Great Lakes region is
well organized and prepared to target the full $475 million to the most
urgent problems facing the Great Lakes."

 

Regional organizations united in support for GLRI funding 

In a related effort, the Commission joined 14 other regional Great Lakes
agencies and organizations to urge Congressional appropriators to provide
full funding for the GLRI. The joint letter, representing Great Lakes
states, tribes, business and industry, environmental and conservation
organizations, stated "We stand united in our strong support for the GLRI
and view its full funding as a significant regional priority." In addition
to the Commission, the letter was co-signed by the Alliance for the Great
Lakes; Council of Great Lakes Industries; Great Lakes United; National
Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Regional Center; Chippewa Ottawa Resource
Authority; Council of Lake Committees; Great Lakes Fishery Commission;
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition; Natural Resources Defense Council,
Midwest Regional Office; Council of Great Lakes Fishery Agencies; Ducks
Unlimited, Great Lakes/Atlantic Region; Great Lakes Metropolitan Chambers
Coalition; National Parks Conservation Association, Midwest Region; and the
Michigan office of the Nature Conservancy.

For more information:

*	Great Lakes Commission Information on the Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative: www.glc.org/advocacy/index.html#restoration
*	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative: www.epa.gov/greatlakes/glri/index.html

Contact: Matt Doss, mdoss at glc.org.


  _____  

Great Lakes Commission
2805 S. Industrial Hwy, Suite 100
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-6791
734-971-9135
www.glc.org

 

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