Press Release

House Approves $475M Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

The effort to restore the Great Lakes advanced in the U.S. Congress, as the House of Representatives today approved $475 million to fund a new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative first proposed in President Obama’s budget.

House Appropriations subcommittee fully funds Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (Coalition Statement)

The U.S. House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee today approved full funding for the new $475 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which addresses some of the most urgent threats to the Great Lakes, including invasive species, toxic pollution and habitat restoration.

The Train Keeps on Moving

Good news in the effort to restore the Great Lakes and revitalize the economy.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at a U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure hearing gave an update on how economic recovery act funds were being used to jump-start the economy, protect human healthy and safeguard the environment.

Said Jackon: “Funding these programs will not only help our economic recovery, but they will protect and increase the number of green jobs, sustain communities, restore and preserve the economic viability of property, promote scientific advances and technological innovation, and ensure a safer, healthier environment.”

Read the her full Read More » »

Michigan to Get $236 Million from EPA, a Boost to Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (PRESS RELEASE)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition praised the recent announcement by the U.S. EPA that the state of Michigan is receiving $236 million as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for water infrastructure projects in the state.

“This is a huge boost for the Great Lakes and for Michigan jobs,” said Andy Buchsbaum, regional executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center and co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “These investments are an  excellent first step to promote economic recovery and Great Lakes restoration while protecting the health Read More » »

House Triples Authorization for Great Lakes Toxic Clean-up in Bill

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 12, 2009) – On the heels of President Obama’s announcement of an unprecedented $475 million Great Lakes restoration fund in his budget, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed a bill that triples the authorization from $54 million to $150 million of a program to clean up toxic pollution in the lakes.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition praised passage of the bill, the Water Quality Investment Act of 209 (H.R. 1262), which passed by a vote of 317 to 101.

“We applaud Rep. James Oberstar and the U.S. House of Representatives for increasing the authorization for this Read More » »

Great Lakes Toxic Clean-up Receives Funding Boost from House Committee

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 5, 2009) – The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition today applauded the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for tripling the authorization from $54 million to $150 million for a program to clean up toxic pollution in the Great Lakes.

“We applaud Rep. James Oberstar and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for increasing the authorization for this important and successful clean-up program,” said Jeff Skelding, national campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Cleaning up toxic pollution benefits our public health, economy and way of life.”

In addition to authorizing the Great Lakes Legacy Act Read More » »

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 Read More » »

Coalition Convenes in D.C. to Urge Action on Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery

Contact: Jeff Skelding, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, (410) 245-8021, JSkelding@nwf.org
Jordan Lubetkin, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, (734) 904-1589, lubetkin@nw.org

Leader of EPA, White House Council on Environmental Quality to Discuss Obama Administration Commitment to Great Lakes

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (February 24, 2009)—As President Obama prepares to release his budget priorities for 2009 and commitment to Great Lakes programs, more than 120 lake advocates are gathering in Washington, D.C., to ask Congress and the Obama Administration to act to restore the lakes and revitalize the economy. 

“Restoring the Great Lakes is vital to our nation’s economic recovery, which is why we’re Read More » »

Michigan Releases Plan to Restore Great Lakes, Boost State Economy

Michigan Lt. Gov. John Cherry and the Office of the Great Lakes released a plan to restore the Great Lakes while boosting the economic fortunes of the state.

Conservation groups in the state praised the plan—as did the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.

The release of the report comes as Congress and the incoming Obama Administration are crafting an economic stimulus package.

A top priority for the Coalition is for the package to include funding for programs that put people to work Read More » »

Coalition Urges Obama, Congress to Create Jobs, Heal the Great Lakes in Recovery Package

For Immediate Release: December 11, 2008

Contact:
Jeff Skelding, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (202) 797-6893
Jordan Lubetkin, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (734) 887-7109
Minnesota: Darrell Gerber, Clean Water Action-Midwest office, (612) 802-5372
New York: Sean Mahar, Audubon New York, (518) 253-7000
Wisconsin: Melissa Malott, Clean Wisconsin, (608) 220-0167

Coalition Urges Obama, Congress to Create Jobs, Heal the Great Lakes in Recovery Package

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 11, 2008)—As Congress works to craft an economic recovery package for President-elect Barack Obama to sign within the first days of taking office, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is asking Congress and President-elect Obama to fund projects Read More » »