Resolution: Fulfilling the Promise for the Great Lakes: Great Lakes Commission Fiscal Year 2011 Federal Priorities for Great Lakes Restoration and Economic Revitalization
Adopted on February 23, 2010

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Whereas, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River are a national treasure and an environmental and economic asset of vital importance to the eight Great Lakes states and the nation as a whole; and

Whereas, 45 million Americans and Canadians depend on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River for drinking water, recreation, fish and wildlife resources, power generation and commercial navigation, among other benefits; and

Whereas, benefits from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River continue to be threatened by the release of untreated sewage, invasive species, toxic contaminants, deteriorating water infrastructure, inadequately maintained ports and harbors, and declining water levels due to climate change and other causes; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes region has united behind the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes, a comprehensive restoration plan that is endorsed by the Great Lakes governors, states, cities, industries, tribal governments and environmental organizations; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes states have further demonstrated their long-term commitment to the Great Lakes by adopting and beginning implementation of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to ensure that our waters are managed for the well-being of future generations; and

Whereas, President Obama has proposed and Congress has approved the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an unprecedented, multi-year program designed to strategically target critical problems facing the Great Lakes, including

• Toxic Substances and Areas of Concern
• Invasive Species
• Nearshore Health and Nonpoint Source Pollution
• Habitat and Wildlife Protection and Restoration
• Accountability, Education, Monitoring, Evaluation, Communication, and Partnerships; and

Whereas, the GLRI will coordinate the efforts of multiple federal agencies and leverage the contributions and expertise of state, local and nongovernmental partners;

Whereas, the GLRI advances the key federal policy goal of maximizing the benefits of the Great Lakes and investing in freshwater resources that will be central to the future of the nation and the eight-state Great Lakes region; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Basin Compact calls on the Great Lakes Commission to advocate on behalf of the eight Great Lakes states in support of issues of common interest.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission endorses a comprehensive suite of federal priorities for the 2010 congressional session and the federal fiscal year 2011 budget that are consistent with recommendations from the Council of Great Lakes Governors; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the following regional priorities are of greatest concern to the Great Lakes Commission:

• Maintain or increase funding of $475 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in FY 2011;
• Protect water quality by providing $2.7 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and $1.4 billion for the Safe Drinking Water SRF, with additional funding included in any new job creation bills adopted by Congress;
• Establish strong protections against aquatic invasive species by providing increased funding for monitoring and response actions to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes; direct the Corps of Engineers to expedite completion of the dispersal barrier system and its study of long-term options for separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds; implement an effective federal regulatory program to prevent introductions and spread via ballast water; pass legislation that guards against invasive species in trade; and fully fund the Great Lakes Fishery Commission’s sea lamprey control; and
• Strengthen regional coordination and federal-state collaboration by reauthorizing U.S. EPA’s Great Lakes Program and formally authorizing the GLRI, with strengthened engagement from the Great Lakes states and other stakeholders.

Be It Further Resolved, that these priorities are shared with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, Council of Great Lakes Industries, the Healing Our Waters® - Great Lakes Coalition, and the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition; and

Be It Further Resolved, that because it addresses the most urgent problems facing the Great Lakes, the GLRI is intended to supplement, but not supplant, base funding for federal programs that support ongoing management and conservation of the lakes; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission calls on Congress and President Obama to maintain their full support for the GLRI and other regional priorities that will restore the Great Lakes and make them a central component of a brighter future for our region.

Adopted at the 2010 Seminnual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, Washington, D.C., Feb. 22-23, 2010.