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Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are the nation's largest fresh water resource and the largest system of fresh water on earth, containing nearly 20 percent of the world supply. The lakes provide us with fresh drinking water, habitat for wildlife, recreation in and on the waterways, water for agriculture and shipping lanes for economic growth.
As a shared resource at the local, state and federal levels, we must collectively develop a vision and action plan for preserving the Great Lakes. We all have an interest in the future of the Great Lakes, and we all have a responsibility to care for them so that they can be enjoyed by future generations. The Great Lakes deserve no less.
The cornerstone of my vision for restoring the Great Lakes and the focus of my efforts in Congress includes the following priorities:
1. Stopping the introduction of additional non-native species to the Great Lakes
The introduction on non-native species into the Great Lakes is the single largest economic and environmental threat to the region today. In building a better defense for the Great Lakes against new invasive species, we must vigorously employ the most effective tools available, while anticipating improved techniques derived from additional research and application through the free enterprise system.
2. Continue the vision of the Great Lakes Legacy Act and the clean-up of toxic “hot spots” in the Great Lakes Region
Pollution from contaminated sediments harms water quality in the Great Lakes and restricts our use of this precious resource. Federal funds provided through the Great Lakes Legacy Act help to aggressively move the cleanup process forward in the 31 designated areas of concern in the United States.
Ultimately the goal should be to remove all of the designated Areas of Concern from the official list of contaminated “hot spots.”
3. Continue to seek uniformity among the Great Lakes States and Canadian Provinces with regard to prohibition of oil and gas exploration in the Great Lakes
The potential energy gains from oil and gas exploration do not outweigh possible future environmental costs to the Great Lakes.
4. Prohibit the diversion of Great Lakes water
As we look to the future, the precious fresh water resource of the Great Lakes will be looked upon with great envy from water-starved regions of this country and even countries around the globe. I was pleased to support the Great Lakes Water Compact last Congress that will protect the integrity of the Great Lakes system through a binding agreement that manages water withdrawals and diversion from the Great Lakes Basin.
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