Quigley Cleans Up Montrose with Sierra Club

CHICAGO, IL --Today, Saturday, April 18th, U.S. Representative-elect Mike Quigley (D-IL) celebrated Earth Day at the Sierra Club's annual Montrose Beach Clean-up.

The Great Lakes contain over 20% of the world's fresh surface water and they are the main source of fresh drinking water for tens of millions of people. Not only do the Great Lakes provide a mode of transportation for the critical components of American industry like iron ore, grain, and stone, but they are also one of the area's major tourist attractions, pumping millions of dollars into surrounding cities, including Chicago.

"Our City depends on the health of the Great Lakes - unlike oil, there are no alternatives to water," said Quigley. "As Cook County Commissioner, I fought to make Chicago a leader in environmental innovation and in Congress, I will proudly continue that fight."

In his race for Congress, Quigley pledged to fight to pass the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Implementation Act - a strategy to restore water quality and biological diversity to the lakes.

"The Sierra Club has supported Mike Quigley's political career from his first election win to this most recent victory. We've worked as close allies for 10 years now on many environmental matters affecting Cook County," said Christine Williamson Chicago Group Chair, Sierra Club. "Mike Quigley was a wonderful advocate for the environment as a Cook County Commissioner. He hammered home the need to do more than simply own public Forest Preserve District lands. He brought the concept of managing land as habitat for the benefit of wildlife back to Cook County. He also was a strong advocate for improved recycling and green fleet additions to Cook County government. We are confident that Congressman Quigley will bring his strong environmental ethic to bear on many national issues including global warming; support for clean, efficient energy sources; public lands management and wilderness preservation; Great Lakes protection; and endangered species protection."

Congressman-elect Quigley is a proven environmental leader. As Cook County Commissioner, Quigley was recognized by the Chicago Reader as "arguably the greenest elected official in Chicago." As Cook County Commissioner, he co-sponsored legislation that committed Cook County to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, he spearheaded the movement to require all new facilities to meet the LEED standards developed by the U.S. Green Buildings Council, and he advocated for the protection of the Cook County Forest Preserve District.