Legislative Priorities Tracking


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Great Promise for the Great Lakes

2009 Regional Priorities for Great Lakes Restoration and Economic Revitalization

A united Great Lakes region calls on Congress to strengthen the national investment in economic revitalization and Great Lakes restoration. The Great Lakes are a vital component of our regional and national economy; restoring them and maximizing their benefits must be a key policy goal for the federal government. Now, more than ever, we face an urgent need to create jobs, stimulate economic development and invest in freshwater resources that will be central to our future. The recently approved economic stimulus package provides funding toward this end. Additional support is needed, however, to address the ongoing challenges we are facing. We urge Congress to support the promise of the Obama campaign by taking action on these near-term opportunities to restore and protect the Great Lakes. These recommendations are consistent with those of the governors of the eight Great Lakes states.

Fulfill the Promise for Sustainable Funding for Great Lakes Restoration: Sustainable funding is needed to fully implement the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes. During his campaign President Obama pledged to create a $5 billion fund to jump start the Great Lakes restoration plan. Congress and the Administration should work together to provide a sustainable funding mechanism to restore the Great Lakes and maximize their economic and environmental benefits.

Protect Water Quality: Restore annual funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to $1.35 billion to help local communities repair and upgrade failing wastewater infrastructure.

Clean Up Toxic Sediments: Appropriate $54 million in FY2010 for the highly successful Great Lakes Legacy Act and increase its future funding authorization to $150 million to expedite cleaning up “toxic hot spots” in the Great Lakes.

Close the Door on Aquatic Invasive Species: Establish federal requirements to guard the Great Lakes against aquatic invasive species, including strong ballast water provisions that protect states’ interests and a program to screen and restrict trade in live organisms that could become invasive. Appropriate $22 million for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and full funding for state and regional aquatic invasive species control programs under the National Invasive Species Act.

Restore Valuable Fish and Wildlife Resources: Appropriate $16 million for the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act to enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to partner with the Great Lakes states and others to restore and conserve fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes.

We are united as a region in asking Congress to support these priorities.

Great Lakes Information Network
Last updated: January 14, 2008
Maintained by: Christine Manninen, manninen@glc.org
Selected Photos: Copyright ©John and Ann Mahan
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