Letter to Ken Calvert, Chairman and Jim Moran, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, of the Committee on Appropriations - Funding for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Letter

Dear Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member Moran:

As Members of the House who believe that a healthy economy in our region is intrinsically linked to the health of the Great Lakes, we respectfully request that you provide $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the Fiscal Year 2015 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill.

The Great Lakes are the world's largest system of fresh surface water, providing drinking water for nearly 40 million people. The Lakes are also an economic driver, supporting 1.5 million jobs and generating $62 billion in wages annually. The Great Lakes fishery alone is valued at $7 billion a year. The Lakes also support commerce, agriculture, transportation, and tourism. For all these reasons, we believe Great Lakes restoration must remain a priority.

More than a century of environmental damage has taken a significant toll on the Great Lakes, which have struggled to overcome toxic substances contamination, habitat loss, invasive species, and beach closings.

In the short time that the GLRI has been in place, it has made significant progress in addressing the longstanding environmental challenges confronting the Lakes, particularly in the areas of combating invasive species like the Asian carp, protecting and restoring thousands of acres of habitat, and cleaning up toxics and Areas of Concern. More work needs to be done.

We urge you to continue this vital investment in the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.