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

• Posted by Hugh McMullen on February 26th, 2009
• Similiar Posts:
  • Historic $475 Million Obama Great Lakes Budget Will Create Jobs and Grow the Economy
  • Coalition Convenes in D.C. to Urge Action on Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery
  • Coalition Applauds Congress for Improving Great Lakes Funding
  • Great Lakes Toxic Clean-up Receives Funding Boost from House Committee
  • White House Budget Leaves Great Lakes Programs ‘Treading Water’

2 Responses to “Historic $475 Million Obama Great Lakes Budget Will Create Jobs and Grow the Economy”

1. Sierra James Says:
   April 22nd, 2009 at 7:10 am

   I want to thankyou for all u have done for us and i think the 475 million dollars budget is a wonderful idea!!! Thankyou again

   Reply – Quote
2. Dirty water needs CleanTech solutions | CleanTechies Blog - CleanTechies.com Says:
   June 3rd, 2009 at 12:17 pm

   [...] Environmental groups say the lakes need a lot more investment than $475 million, or $5 billion, based on a four-year-old, $20 billion-plus strategy crafted by the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration. But it’s the first time a president has made a serious effort to begin paying for the strategy, notes the National Wildlife Federation. [...]

   Reply – Quote

Leave a Reply