March 28, 2001

To Our Friends in The Great Lakes Community,

We are pleased to present a working draft of a compilation of federal legislative and appropriations priorities that would help secure a clean environment, strong economy and high quality of life for residents of the eight state Great Lakes region.

We emphasize that this draft statement is a work in progress and is intended to be a contribution to broader efforts to secure region-wide consensus as a large-scale legislative/appropriations package is developed. Toward that end, we applaud an emerging effort through the Great Lakes governors and Great Lakes Congressional Task Force to do just that, and we pledge our support to a mutual consensus.

This statement offers several themes (and associated priority actions) that could be pursued in this and future years. These themes include cleaning up toxic hot spots; shutting the door on invasive species; controlling nonpoint source pollution; restoring and conserving wetlands and critical coastal habitat; ensuring the sustainable use of our water resources; strengthening our decision support capability; and enhancing the commercial and recreational value of our waterways.

We believe that it is our charge to ensure environmental and economic prosperity for the Great Lakes; the greatest freshwater resource on the face of the earth deserves no less.

Please read the entire Great Lakes Program to Ensure Environmental and Economic Prosperity (PDF)

The Commission appreciates your consideration of this statement and welcomes the opportunity to work with you on mutual interests, and on a broader statement of regional consensus. Please also let us know how we can further support and assist you in your efforts. We welcome a call, and invite you to contact your state delegation chair (see below) or Great Lakes Commission staff at 734/665.9135.

Sincerely,

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The Great Lakes Commission, chaired by Nathaniel E. Robinson (Wisconsin), is a nonpartisan, binational compact agency created by 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 state legislators, agency officials, and governors’ appointees 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.