Washington, DC - Reps. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Vernon J. Ehlers, (D-MI), John Dingell (D-MI), and Mark Kirk (R-Il) introduced the H.R. 4755, the Great Lakes Restoration Bill.

A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Carl Levin, (D-MI), George Voinovich, (R-OH); Amy Klobuchar, (D-MN), Sherrod Brown, (D-OH); Al Franken, (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow, (D-MI), and Richard Durbin, (D-MI).

 Congress and the Obama administration have both made clear in recent months that the restoration of the Great Lakes needs to be a national priority.  In February, the EPA, in collaboration with other federal agencies released the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan.  Click here to read a copy of the report.  

 This bipartisan legislation will build upon President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by authorizing a funding level of $475 million for FY10-FY14. The legislation aims to address the following areas of concern to Great Lakes health: toxic substances, invasive species, near source health, nonpoint source pollution, habitat restoration, and wildlife preservation.

 “The Great Lakes represent 20 percent of the world’s fresh water supply, and it is about time we put some serious effort into restoring and protecting them,” said Slaughter.  “The economies of the cities bordering the Great Lakes, including Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, all of which I represent, are absolutely dependent on them-making this not just an environmental issue, but an economic one.”

 “The Great Lakes are a precious resource located in our own backyard, so it is imperative that we do everything we can to protect them,” said Ehlers. “The Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act will provide for the removal of contamination within the next ten years in the areas of concern identified in the Great Lakes Legacy Act, and it will authorize funding in support of the important recommendations in the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy. The longer we wait to address areas of serious contamination, the more difficult and expensive it will be to clean them up.”

 “The Great Lakes are a vital asset to the region and to the nation – they are a treasure that must be restored and protected.  We have seen positive steps from the Obama Administration and the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act is the next step in the process I look forward to working with the other Co-Chairs of the Great Lakes Task Force and indeed all of the members from the Great Lakes region to ensure the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act is signed into law this year,” said Dingell.

“The Great Lakes are the crown jewel of the Midwest, and we should ensure that future generations can enjoy safe, clean drinking water,” Kirk said. “This bipartisan legislation also will help boost the economy of the region. By keeping our lakes clean, we will protect the livelihood of those who make a living from the lakes.”

 

A summary of the legislation is below:

 Authorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million per year.  This is the level of funding initially proposed by the President.
Authorizes a new advisory group to the EPA.  The two-tiered group is loosely modeled on the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration (GLRC).
Authorizes the Federal Interagency Task Force which was established in 2004 by Executive Order which means that it could be dissolved by Executive Order.
Reauthorizes the Great Lakes Legacy Act which expires in 2010.  The authority is for $150 million per year, the level recommended by the GLRC Strategy Report.
Reauthorizes EPA's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) at level funding ($25 million). 
 

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