US Senate

All for One and One for All

Economic turbulence tends to inspire regionalism among Congressmen and those who lobby them. The Great Lakes has received an infusion of federal money to invest in restoration and it appears that this is causing some envy among other ecosystem restoration projects, but it shouldn’t because we intend to fight not just for the Great Lakes but also for the restoration of all of America’s Great Waters.

Less than a year ago, National Wildlife Federation CEO Larry Schweiger challenged a room full of advocates for this nation’s endangered waters to think beyond their own restoration efforts. “Instead of focusing on our own Read More » »

The Third Wave of Conservationism Hits Washington

With today’s launch of the Great Waters Coalition, the nation’s conservation movement matures into its third and hopefully most powerful wave to ever hit Washington. This morning, on Capitol Hill, representatives of more than 30 organizations working to restore this nation’s waters will launch the first ever national restoration movement.

The Great Water’s Coalition includes the Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Louisiana, the Everglades, the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Maine, Long Island Sound, the Mississippi River, Puget Sound, San Francisco and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. We are at a time in the history of this planet when these ecosystems are on Read More » »

Climate Change, National Parks and Water Infrastructure are on Congress’ Agenda

The National Parks are threatened by climate change – from contracting glaciers to flooded revered wetlands – management of our nation’s park lands will become increasingly difficult. After a significant panel found that the National Parks Service lacks the research capacity to develop a way to deal with the changes to our climate, a US Senate panel has decided to hold a hearing on the issue this week.

The US Senate Energy and Natural Resources National Parks Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Wednesday afternoon at 2pm in the Dirksen Building. The President of the Wildlife Management Institute will testify Read More » »

Invasive Species Attack Hard Working American’s

New York counties that border Lake Ontario and rely on tourism and sport fishing have just had their fears confirmed – after slow economic growth this summer– a new report shows that the sport fishing industry is in decline. The economy has something to do with that as well as a waning interest in fishing salmon, but also, the evil invasive species have played a role, according to researchers at Cornell.

The study, Lake Ontario Sportfishing: Trends, analysis and Outlook, predicts a further decline in future summers. New York’s sport fishery Read More » »

Great Lakes are on the Minds of Congress this Week

This week the US House and US Senate are authorizing money for the spending bills for Agriculture and the US Army Corps both of which have Great Lakes program lines in their budgets.

A $400,000 Great Lakes Basin Soil Erosion Program is part of the Agriculture Department’s Budget that Congress is currently finishing up work upon. And both chambers should complete work on the Army Corps authorization this week. That bill has several million in it for different Great Lakes programs, such as: $3.4 million for the Great Lakes RAP program, $1.14 million for a Sediment Transport Modeling program, $2.5 million Read More » »

Senators George Voinovich and Herb Kohl to Decide Fate of GLRI

Take a good look at these two guys ’cause they are going to be at the table when Congress decides whether to authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million or $400 million. These guys will have a say in just how great the Great Lakes will be after the initiative is implemented.

The US House approved $475 million and the US Senate is providing for $400 million – now the funding legislation is in conference where it will be determined how Read More » »

US Senate Gives Thumbs Up To GLRI

Last night, the US Senate voted in favor of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative making it a reality and giving us the chance to get annual payments toward restoring and protecting the Lakes. Just days before the 77 to 21 vote on the Interior Bill that would fund up to $400 million for the GLRI, the US President penned a letter to the US Senate asking for the full $475 million.

The President’s budget and the US House version authorizes up to $475 million for 2010. The Senate version only funds $400 million but it has been implied that the Read More » »

President Pressures US Senate to Fully Fund GLRI

In a strongly worded letter, the US President told the US Senate that he wants the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative fully funded at $475 million.  The letter makes it clear that this initiative is a priority for the White House.

“ The Administration appreciates the Committee’s inclusion of $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, but urges the Congress to fully fund the President’s request of $475 million,” the letter states.

And just in case a little strong arming from the White House isn’t enough to push Read More » »

Senator Klobuchar Sees the Great Lakes From Her Porch

Backporch views of Russia didn’t provide the foreign policy gravitas Republican VP Candidate Sarah Palin needed to win over critics, but scenic views of Lake Superior do improve the environmental credentials of Democratic Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. 

“I can see Lake Superior from my porch,” a smiling Sen. Klobuchar remarked during her address to the HOW coalition at their annual conference in Duluth, Minn.  Of course, it was meant to be funny but as with most jests, there is some truth – Sen. Klobuchar has proven her environmentally friendly reputation in the US Senate.

As a Great Lakes Read More » »

Great Lakes Bills Waiting For US Senate Action

It is almost time for Congress to come back to Washington and ring the bell for the start of legislative business. There are a number of Great Lakes bills that are still winding their way through both houses, including the first ever Presidential commitment to the Great Lakes (in terms of dollars) the: Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

It may seem like the GLRI is already a done deal since the Environmental Protection Agency and the new Great Lakes Czar Cameron Davis have toured the region asking for input on the proposals for implementation. But the bill actually still has to be Read More » »