Water is Life

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, America's Great Lakes constitute the largest body of fresh water on Earth. Water is life.

I rise to highlight the importance of legislation to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative introduced last week.

As co-chair of the congressional Great Lakes Task Force and a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, funding the GLRI is among my highest priorities.

The district I represent traces much of the southern rim of Lake Erie's westernmost watershed, the largest in the entire Great Lakes.

Our citizens know how important protecting our Great Lakes is for today and the tomorrows to come. The GLRI provides instrumental funding to meet enormous unmet environmental needs for our region and the millions of people who depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, livelihoods, and leisure.

In 2020, the Great Lakes contributed $3.1 trillion to our economy, 25.8 million jobs, and $1.3 trillion in wages.

Analysis shows that every GLRI dollar spent produces $3.35 in economic activity, which demonstrates a clear return on investment.

Supporting GLRI benefits the quality of these precious lakes, the adjoining communities, and the people who depend on them for the sustenance of life.

Supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is just common sense.

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