Wisc. Radio Network Interview re Great Lakes Funding

The Wisconsin Radio Network is running a story today featuring yours truly about the importance of Congress – especially appropriators – in following the President’s lead on investing in Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery.

Listen to the Wisconsin Radio Network story

Historic $475 Million Obama Great Lakes Budget Will Create Jobs and Grow the Economy

Statement by Jeff Skelding, Campaign Director of Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition on the Obama Administration’s FY2010 Budget:

“The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition applauds President Obama for an unprecedented investment of $475 Million in his Fiscal Year 2010 Budget to restore the Great Lakes – an effort that is key to creating jobs and growing our economy. Additionally, there could be as much as $1 billion in other Great Lakes Restoration funding provided to the Great Lakes states through increased funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs. Thirty-five million people rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, and millions more benefit from the commerce and business that depends on the waters of the Great Lakes.

President Obama truly is a Great Lakes President. This investment is a major victory for the Great Lakes, and represents the largest, most serious commitment to Great Lakes restoration in a President’s Budget in history. Along with the participation in Great Lakes Day in Washington, D.C. this week by the White House Council of Environmental Quality Director Nancy Sutley and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the President’s Budget demonstrates he is serious about his campaign commitment to the Great Lakes. It is clear he understands that unless America invests in the Great Lakes these problems will get worse and the price we pay will be higher.

Today, the health of our Lakes is seriously threatened by problems such as untreated sewage and invasive species. The plan for Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery is a multi-year strategy for tackling the problems, and calls for action to: modernize sewage treatment, clean-up polluted harbors, restore wetlands, and prevent unwanted, new species from invading the lakes. Each of these steps is essential if we are to restore the lakes and revive our economy.

We look forward to reviewing the details of President Obama’s budget, and to working with Congress to match the President’s initiative in their own budget resolution and appropriations to restore this treasured resource.”

Contact:
Jeff Skelding – (410) 245-8021
Chad Lord – (202) 454-3385

Michigan Congressional Delegation Recap

Here’s Cheryl Mendoza of Freshwater Future on Great Lakes Day summing up some of the Michigan Congressional delegation’s commitment to Great Lakes restoration.

Of course, Senator Levin, Senator Stabenow, and Representative Ehlers are longtime champs for Great Lakes restoration and will continue to be.

Some Congresspeople, like Representative Pete Hoekstra, support important legislation like The Great Lakes Legacy Act, but at this time isn’t very supportive of the Clean Water Restoration Act, which will clarify and restore the original intent of the Clean Water Act, whose meaning has gotten muddled by recent Supreme Court Decisions. It is an important measure that must pass if toxins, sediment, and sewage are to be kept out of watersheds in the Great Lakes and across the country.

For an easy and effective way reach out to your Members of Congress about the Clean Water Restoration Act and other important Great Lakes legislation, use this form provided by NWF.

Obama Increases Spending on Environment

Lorraine Woellert of Bloomberg News writes that President Barack Obama wants to increase the EPA’s budget by 34 percent – mostly for clean-water programs – the increase is among the largest proposed for any federal agency in percentage terms. Obama proposes using certain taxes on oil and chemical producers to pay for clean ups of toxic waste. Looks like Great Lakes may start getting a bit of a shine up after all.

Exact Words from Obama’s Budget

Obama’s budget went live at 11 a.m. today. Here is what it says about the Great Lakes on page 104:

“Accelerates the Restoration of the Great Lakes. The 2010 Budget includes a new $475 million inter-agency initiative to address regional issues that affect the Great Lakes, such as invasive species, non-point source pollution, and contaminated sediment. This initiative will use outcome-oriented performance goals
and measures to target the most significant problems and track progress in addressing them. EPA and its Federal partners will coordinate State, tribal, local, and industry actions to protect, maintain, and restore the chemical,
biological, and physical integrity of the Great Lakes.”

Historic $475 Million Obama Great Lakes Budget Will Create Jobs and Grow the Economy

“The Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition applauds President Obama for an unprecedented investment of $475 Million in his Fiscal Year 2010 Budget to restore the Great Lakes – an effort that is key to creating jobs and growing our economy. Thirty-five million people rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, and millions more benefit from the commerce and business that depends on the waters of the Great Lakes.

President Obama truly is a Great Lakes President. This investment is a major victory for the Great Lakes, and represents the largest, most serious commitment to Great Lakes restoration in a President’s Budget in history. Along with the participation in Great Lakes Day in Washington, D.C. this week by the White House Council of Environmental Quality Director Nancy Sutley and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, the President’s Budget demonstrates he is serious about his campaign commitment to the Great Lakes. It is clear he understands that unless America invests in the Great Lakes these problems will get worse and the price we pay will be higher.

Today, the health of our Lakes is seriously threatened by problems such as untreated sewage and invasive species. The plan for Great Lakes restoration and economic recovery is a multi-year strategy for tackling the problems, and calls for action to: modernize sewage treatment, clean-up polluted harbors, restore wetlands, and prevent unwanted, new species from invading the lakes. Each of these steps is essential if we are to restore the lakes and revive our economy.

We look forward to reviewing the details of President Obama’s budget, and to working with Congress to match the President’s initiative in their own budget resolution and appropriations to restore this treasured resource.”

Contact: Jeff Skelding – (410) 245-8021
Chris Grubb – (734) 255-3382

Great Lakes To Get $475 Million In Obama Budget

Just hours after Great Lakes advocates and officials left Washington, HOW learned that the Obama budget has set aside $475 million for a new “interagency Great Lakes restoration initiative.” Woo Hoo, yes we are giddy to say the least. This just goes to show Obama will be a real Great Lakes President.

Great Lakes Day is a Big Success!

From all we’ve heard at headquarters, Great Lakes advocates made a big impact on Washington today. The Great Lakes Commission joined the Healing Our Waters Coalition, the Council of Great Lakes Governors, the NE Midwest Institute and the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative to tell Congress and the Administration that the Great Lakes need to be a major priority this year.

Gildo Tori, director of public policy for Ducks Unlimited said that everyone was in agreement about what the priorities were and how the government should address them. Tori says that several Congressmen remarked that they were impressed that everyone was telling them the same things.

“The day went great,” enthused Andy Buchsbaum, HOW co-chair.

Great Lakes Day 2009 comes on the heels of the Great Lakes Region Coalition’s trip to Washington. The coalition represents chambers of commerce from the Great Lakes region and they came to Washington to also urge Congress to restore the Great Lakes in order to help make our region and economic superpower.

On YouTube: Minnesota Congressional Delegation Recap

Minnesota activists had a productive day urging the state’s Congressional delegation to support programs that restore the Great Lakes and revive the economy.

Watch the video summarizing visits with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Jim Oberstar, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Collin Peterson, Rep. Tim Walz.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar: Enthusiasm for White House Commitment to Global Warming

In spite of being the only Senator from Minnesota (at the moment), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) made time to talk with Great Lake advocates.

In a short train ride from the Hart Office Building to the Senate Reception Area with Coalition members from Minnesota, Sen. Klobuchar expressd enthusiasm for President Obama’s commitment to confront global warming through cap-and-trade legislation. President Obama expressed his support for cap-and-trade legislation in his Congressional address last night.

Coalition members gave the senator a quick run-down of Coalition priorities and will follow up with her throughout the year.