WASHINGTON, DC – Today, US Senator Herb Kohl urged members of the Senate to approve the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact (the Compact) – the final step needed to finalize this interstate, international agreement to protect and preserve the Great Lakes.  The Senator renewed his call for Congress to speedily ratify the historic Compact during a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which Kohl serves.

"The Great Lakes are among America's greatest national treasures," Kohl said.  "Holding 20 percent of the world's fresh water, they play a vital role in the daily lives of the people of Wisconsin, providing drinking water, jobs, energy, shipping and recreation.  Something so important to our prosperity and well-being deserves to be conserved and protected for future generations."

Senator Kohl also thanked Governor Jim Doyle, who testified before the panel, for his hard work and leadership as Chairman of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, in helping to secure wide support for the Compact.  Supporters include all eight Great Lake states, Canadian provinces Ontario and Quebec, and 150 business and environmental groups.  Senator Russ Feingold chaired the hearing.  Two weeks ago, Senators Kohl, Feingold, and a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of federal lawmakers sent a letter to the Great Lakes states governors, applauding them for their efforts to win approval for the Compact in their individual states, and stating their commitment to ensuring the agreement wins ratification in Congress. A joint resolution to ratify the Compact has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.  

Earlier this month, the Great Lakes Compact was passed by the last of the eight Great Lakes states' legislatures.  Wisconsin approved the Compact in May.  The Compact protects the Great Lakes by banning new or increased diversions outside of the Great Lakes basin.  In addition, the Compact requires states to implement water conservation programs, mandates state 'water resources inventory' and regulations of withdrawals, and imposes reporting requirements on large withdrawals of water.  The Great Lakes, covering over 94,000 square miles, contain 95 percent of our country's fresh surface water, and about one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water supply.  Work on the Compact began in earnest after a controversial proposal was defeated in 1999 to ship Lake Superior water to Asia.