GLIN==> Groups Urge Congress to Maintain Funding for Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition

For Immediate Release:
October 26, 2010

Contact:
Jordan Lubetkin (734) 887-7109, lubetkin at nwf.org

90 Groups Urge Congress to Maintain Funding for Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery

Letter from Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition Urges U.S. Senators, Representatives to Fund Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 Million

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (October 26, 2010) - With funding for one of the most promising Great Lakes restoration efforts in doubt, more than 90 organizations of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition sent a letter to U.S. senators and representatives, urging them to maintain funding to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million.

"The millions of the people who depend on the Great Lakes are counting on Congress to do the right thing and support programs that protect our jobs, our economy and our way of life." said Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. "Now is not the time to scale back our nation's commitment to Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery. Otherwise, the problems will get worse and more costly."

The coalition sent the letter to the region's U.S. congressional delegation-16 senators and 125 representatives from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, introduced by President Obama and passed by the U.S. Congress in 2009, has been widely credited with reinvigorating a national commitment to the Lakes-the largest surface fresh-water resource in the world. The program has infused $475 million into successful programs and projects to solve some of the most vexing problems facing the Lakes, including invasive species, toxic pollution and habitat destruction.

"The introduction and enactment of the [Great Lakes Restoration Initiative] has propelled Great Lakes restoration forward," the coalition's letter states. "Continued support from members of Congress is critical to accelerate Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin."

The future of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, however, is in doubt.  President Obama and a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee have recommended cutting the program to $300 million-a 36 percent reduction. The initiative could lose even more funding if Congress fails to pass a budget until the 112th Congress convenes.

The specter of severe cuts-even the elimination-of the program comes as the need for Great Lakes restoration remains greater than ever. The region faces a tremendous backlog of work to deal with historic threats such as toxic pollution, habitat destruction, invasive species and polluted run-off from cities and farms-while also dealing with new emerging threats such as the Asian carp. The EPA's recent request for proposals under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative solicited far more proposals that could be funded by a ratio of 7-to-1.

The letter underscores the need for a long-term, robust federal commitment to restore the Great Lakes and realize the 2-to-1 return on investment from healthy Lakes.

"The U.S. Congress and President Obama have made Great Lakes restoration a national priority-and people, communities and businesses are starting to experience the benefit of that commitment," said Skelding. "Our message is simple: Do not let up now. We have solutions to the urgent threats facing the Great Lakes. It is time to use them."

To read the letter, visit: http://www.healthylakes.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/10-19-2010_HOW_Coalition_FY11_GLRI_AppropsLETTER_FINAL.pdf

For more information, go to: http://www.healthylakes.org/

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition consists of 117 environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos, aquariums and museums representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

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Jordan Lubetkin
Senior Regional Communications Manager
National Wildlife Federation
Great Lakes Regional Center
Office: 734-887-7109
Cell: 734-904-1589

www.nwf.org/greatlakes
www.healthylakes.org

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