Current Events

Ms. Neagu Goes to Washington

While she didn’t filibuster on the floor of the Senate like Jimmy Stewart in the classic film, Indiana’s Jeanette Neagu - with the Lake Michigan League of Women Voters - did join hundreds of other advocates on Great Lakes Day last week, and picked up some press coverage back home.

Neagu’s quote at the end is spot on:

“Members of Congress ultimately hold the purse strings for the federal government through the annual appropriations process, so it is critical they match the president’s initiative in their own budget resolution and appropriations to restore this treasured resource,” she said.

EPA Administrator on Invasive Species, Great Lakes

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s remarks have been gaining media attention in the region–especailly her call to get tough on aquatic invasive species.

Here are some of the first ones to hit.

From the Associated Press: EPA chief reconsidering ship ballast permit

And this from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: EPA chief open to tougher policy on invasive species

You can view Lisa Jackson’s remarks on YouTube here.

EPA Administrator on YouTube Discussing Great Lakes

You can now view EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson’s speech on the Great Lakes on YouTube. Check it out and tell us what you think.

Watch for more videos from Healthy Lakes on YouTube here.

Washington Post on White House Commitment to Great Lakes

Check out Page A 11 in today’s Washington Post, previewing today’s keynote addresses by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley. They are appearing at Great Lakes Commission and Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition meetings today.

It starts: “With everything that’s gone haywire in the economy since last summer, who among us recalls Obama’s promises in the primary campaign involving the Great Lakes — so important to states such as Indiana and Michigan? The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition does.”

They’re right. We remember. Read More » »

EPA Administrator: ‘We’re Back on the Job’

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson re-affirmed the Obama Administration’s support for the Great Lakes, vowing, “We’re back on the job.”

Administrator Jackson went through the list of Great Lakes restoration priorities, assuring advocates that the White House would work to restore the lakes.

“We remain committed to modernizing wastewater treatment,” said Jackson at none point.

Jeff Skelding, national campaign director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, had this to say about Administrator Jackson’s keynote address in front of Great Lakes Commission and Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition members.

“The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is pleased that the highest levels of the Obama Administration Read More » »

Election of Barack Obama Holds ‘Great Promise for Restoration of Great Lakes’

Healing Our Waters®-Great Lakes Coalition

Election of Barack Obama Holds ‘Great Promise for Restoration of Great Lakes’

Coalition Vows to Work with President-Elect, New Congress to Restore and Protect Lakes, Boost Regional Economy

Statement by Jeff Skelding, national campaign director, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition on election of Sen. Barack Obama to President of the United States

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (November 5, 2008)— “The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is excited about Sen. Barack Obama’s victory and looks forward to working with his Administration and the new Congress for the change we need to restore and protect the Great Lakes—a national icon that is Read More » »

Senator Feeling Heat for Inaction on Invasive Species

The Associated Press is reporting on federal ballast water legislation now stalled in the U.S. Senate.

It’s time to urge Great Lakes senators to work with their colleagues to get strong protections to shut the door on the influx of non-native invaders entering the lakes.

Momentum Builds in Washington to Pass Great Lakes Water Protections

The U.S. Congress is getting closer to protecting the Great Lakes from depletion.

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee is marking up the Water Compact today, followed by a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Read our testimony here.

The action on the Hill comes days after President Bush voiced his support for the water agreement— which you can read about in the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News and Stateline.org.

Presidential contenders Barack Read More » »

Great Lakes Advocates Urge Congress to Act Quickly on Historic Protections for Lakes

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (July 23, 2008)—Advocates for the Great Lakes urged Congress to act quickly on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact, a historic agreement introduced today in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate to conserve water in America’s largest fresh surface water ecosystem.

“This is an important day for the Great Lakes,” said Andy Buchsbaum, co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes office. “The Compact would for the first time set the same strong water protections for all the Great Lakes states while protecting Read More » »

Michigan Columnist Calls on Voters to Highlight Great Lakes in 2008 Election

Syndicated columnist George Weeks this week highlighted the importance of Michigan to demand more from the 2008 presidential candidates. He writes: the key thing is for Michigan voters to stress the issue as candidates campaign here. He also mentions Michigan’s efforts to move forward on Great Lakes restoration, as well as the Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives Boat Tour as important ways to get the candidates’ attention this summer. Click here to contact the presidential candidates about the Great Lakes.