Statement by Commission Chairman Lt. Gov. John Cherry, Jr. on Signing by the President of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact

Future generations of Great Lakes residents will look back on this day and thank us. Today we celebrate final action to enact the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. Approved earlier this month by both chambers of Congress, the Compact was signed into law today by President George W. Bush.

The Compact, and the companion Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Sustainable Water Management Agreement to which Ontario and Québec are committing, provide sound public policy and responsible environmental stewardship for our Great Lakes – the largest and most important body of fresh water on Earth. We can now be confident that decisions regarding use of Great Lakes-St. Lawrence waters will be guided by policies that protect and conserve the resource today, and ensure a stronger economy and the very health of this region’s citizens tomorrow.

The Great Lakes Commission applauds the U.S. Congress and the Administration on their swift approval of the Compact. We recognize that Congress’s overwhelming approval happened in part because of the broad, bipartisan support from the governors and legislatures of all eight Great Lakes states. We pledge the support, service and expertise of the Commission to our Member states and provinces to assist in the implementation of these historical agreements.

The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. John Cherry (Mich.), is an interstate compact agency established under state and U.S. federal law and dedicated to promoting a strong economy, healthy environment and high quality of life for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region and its residents. The Commission consists of governors' appointees, state legislators, and agency officials from its eight member states. Associate membership for Ontario and Québec was established through the signing of a "Declaration of Partnership." The Commission maintains a formal Observer program involving U.S. and Canadian federal agencies, tribal authorities, binational agencies and other regional interests. The Commission offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.