Great Lakes Commission Legislative Priorities for FY 2011

Presented to the 111th Congress, second session: February 2010

Great Lakes Commission Legislative Priorities for FY2011

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Starting the Journey
2009 marked a “watershed” year for the Great Lakes when President Obama proposed – and Congress approved funding for – the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an unprecedented, multi-year program to restore the Great Lakes. With funding of $475 million for the Initiative’s first year, the Great Lakes region is taking a significant step toward a cleaner environment and a healthier economy. The Administration has proposed $300 million for FY 2011.

The GLRI will help implement the comprehensive restoration strategy developed under the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, which projected a $20 billion cost for cleaning up the Great Lakes. If fully funded over its five-year timeframe, the GLRI, coupled with other critical programs, will help fulfill the promise of this regional strategy and accelerate on-the-ground action to restore the Great Lakes.

Regional Priorities for the Great Lakes
On behalf of its eight member states, the Great Lakes Commission thanks Congress and the Administration for funding the first year of the GLRI. We are off to a strong start. The GLRI is designed as a five-year program, however, and we urge Congress to maintain or increase funding in FY 2011 to sustain our momentum, build on past investments and ensure the Initiative’s long term success. In addition, we urge Congress to support other regional priorities that are not addressed by the GLRI. The Commission endorses the priorities of the Great Lakes governors. Our priorities complement the governors’and are supported by other regional organizations.

Take Action to Build a Brighter Future for the Great Lakes Region Four near-term priorities have been identified by an alliance that includes the Great Lakes Commission, the mayors of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, the Healing Our Waters® - Great Lakes Coalition, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, the Council of Great Lakes Industries and the Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition. These priorities complement those of the governors of the Great Lakes states.

Fact sheets

• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative: Strategically Targeting Critical Great Lakes Problems
• Establishing Strong Protections Against Aquatic Invasive Species
• Cleaning Up Toxic Substances and Restoring Degraded Areas of Concern
• Improving Nearshore Health and Reducing Nonpoint Source Pollution
• Restoring and Protecting Valuable Fish and Wildlife Resources
• Protecting Water Quality through the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Revolving Funds
• Improving Infrastructure for Commercial Navigation and Recreational Boating
• Stopping the Spread of Asian Carp:
  An Action Agenda for Congress