For Immediate Release
June 26, 2009 |
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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Alan Mlynek
Office: 202.225.4961
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House Approves $475 Million for Great Lakes
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Restoration Funds Actively Sought by Rep. Levin |
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(Washington D.C.)- The House approved legislation today to provide $475 million for a new Great Lakes restoration effort. The funding, approved as part of the annual funding bill for the Department of the Interior and Environmental Protection Agency, passed by a vote of 254-173.
“The Great Lakes are Michigan’s crown jewels,” said Rep. Levin. “A comprehensive effort is needed to protect and restore them. Today’s action by the House begins this effort.”
At the urging of Rep. Levin and others in the Michigan Congressional Delegation, the EPA bill includes the full $475 million requested by President Obama for a new Great Lakes Restoration initiative. This initiative will begin to address longstanding problems in the Great Lakes, including invasive species, non-point pollution, habitat and fisheries loss, and contaminated sediment. The House-passed bill also includes a large increase in federal assistance to help states and localities finance and build clean water infrastructure projects. The bill now goes to the Senate which much also approve the Great Lakes funding.
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