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Obama Joins Bipartisan Coalition of Senators to Support Great Lakes Compact

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Michael Ortiz, 202 228 5566

16 Great Lakes Senators Cosponsor Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today joined with 15 Great Lakes senators to cosponsor the Great Lakes Compact. The Compact is an agreement between the eight lake-bordering states to protect the Great Lakes from water diversions and exports, and it must now be approved by Congress. Cosponsors include Senators Levin (D-MI), Voinovich (R-OH), Bayh (D-IN), Brown (D-OH), Casey (D-PA), Clinton (D-NY), Coleman (R-MN), Durbin (D-IL), Feingold (D-WI), Klobuchar (D-MN), Kohl (D-WI), Lugar (R-IN), Stabenow (D-MI), Schumer (D-NY), and Specter (R-PA)

"The Great Lakes are one of the world's greatest natural treasures, as well as the principal source of drinking water for almost 30 million Americans in the region. We must do everything we can to protect the Lakes and preserve their water supply for future generations of Americans.

"The Great Lakes Compact is an historic agreement between the eight Great Lakes states to protect them from water diversions and exports. It is, perhaps, the most significant legal action to protect the Lakes in the last 100 years since the Boundary Waters Treaty between the U.S. and Canada. This Compact is essential for the environmental and economic health of the region.

"Now that the states have approved the Compact, it's time for the Congress and the President to take action, and ratify the Compact. I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this legislation and will work with a bipartisan coalition of my colleagues to move this bill forward. I am committed to working to fully implement this Compact to protect America's truly Great Lakes."