Quigley, Bipartisan Group Re-Introduces Major Great Lakes Package
WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), along with 18 other original cosponsors, including Rep. Dave Joyce (OH-14), Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-25), and Rep. Sandy Levin (MI-09), introduced bipartisan legislation that would formally authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) at $300 million for the next five years.
The five Great Lakes contain one fifth of the world's fresh water supply and GLRI, composed of a group of programs, ensures that this environmental and economic treasure is protected.
"Chicagoans understand the role the Great Lakes play as an economic driver, by supporting jobs and transporting goods through our region. We depend on our lakes to provide for us, and it is crucial that we protect this unique and vital ecosystem," said Rep. Quigley. "I'm proud to join Republicans and Democrats as an original cosponsor of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2015, which will provide essential solutions to address the challenges the Great Lakes face, like invasive species invasion, pollution and cleaning up other toxic hot spots along the shores."
Rep. Quigley helped the Illinois Department of Natural Resources fish Asian carp from local waterways during one of his first Undercover Congressman jobs in 2009.
The legislation would address invasive species problems, coordinate protection and restoration efforts, and bring together business and environmental organizations with a shared interest in the Great Lakes. The bipartisan legislation heads to the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and is nearly identical to their bill last Congress which passed the House of Representatives by voice vote, but died in the Senate. It formally authorizes funding of GLRI at $300 million annually for fiscal years 2016-2020 and does not add any debt to the federal budget.
"Over 26 million Americans in our region rely on the Great Lakes for commerce, transportation, drinking water, and recreation, and it is absolutely critical that we keep these areas safe and clean," said Rep. Slaughter, Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force. "The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has made enormous contributions to improving Lake Ontario for Rochester, and I'm so glad we are reintroducing this legislation early in the term. Twenty percent of all of the surface fresh water on Earth is in the Great Lakes, and we have an obligation to future generations to keep this precious resource safe, clean, and free of invasive species."
As a member of the House Great Lakes Task Force and the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, Rep. Quigley has been a stalwart protector of the Great Lakes and the environment at large. Since assuming his role as the only Illinois member of the House Appropriations Committee, he has worked to secure over $600 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The GLRI has helped Illinois implement 75 local and on the ground restoration projects, including efforts to fight invasive species like Asian carp. He has urged his colleagues in the House to put partisanship aside and craft America's first national energy plan to address climate change. Rep. Quigley has opposed the environmentally harmful Keystone XL pipeline and fought for increased protections against oil and gas drilling. During his Chicago Climate Tour of 2013, he visited regional environmental sites to hear from experts on the local impact of climate change and efforts to address the issue.
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