Resolution: Great Lakes – Great Jobs: Great Lakes Commission Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Priorities for Great Lakes Restoration and Economic Revitalization
Adopted on February 24, 2009

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Whereas, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River are a national treasure and an environmental and economic asset of vital importance to the eight Great Lakes states and the nation as a whole; and

Whereas, 45 million Americans and Canadians depend on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River for drinking water, recreation, fish and wildlife resources, power generation and commercial navigation, among other benefits; and

Whereas, benefits from the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River continue to be threatened by the release of untreated sewage, invasive species, toxic contaminants, deteriorating water infrastructure, inadequately maintained ports and harbors, and declining water levels due to climate change and other causes; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes region has united behind the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes, a comprehensive restoration plan that is endorsed by the Great Lakes states, cities, industries, tribal governments and environmental organizations; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes states have further demonstrated their long-term commitment to the Great Lakes by adopting the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact to ensure that the quantity and quality of our waters are managed for the well-being of future generations; and

Whereas, The Brookings Institution and 25 metropolitan Chambers of Commerce in the Great Lakes region have highlighted the return on investment from restoring the Great Lakes and making them a key element for advancing a business agenda for the region; and

Whereas, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence cities and other local governments are already investing an estimated $15 billion annually to protect the Great Lakes; and

Whereas, in these tough economic times, investing in and maximizing the value of our nation’s and region’s natural assets and infrastructure – including freshwater in the Great Lakes – should be key policy goals of the federal government; and

Whereas, leveraging the potential of the Great Lakes will create jobs, stimulate economic development and invest in freshwater resources that will be central to the future of the nation and the eight-state Great Lakes region; and

Whereas, the Great Lakes Basin Compact calls on the Great Lakes Commission to advocate on behalf of the eight Great Lakes states in support of issues of common interest.

Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission endorses a comprehensive suite of federal priorities for Fiscal Year 2010, which are consistent with recommendations from the Council of Great Lakes Governors; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the following regional priorities are of greatest concern to the Great Lakes Commission:

• Protect water quality by fully funding the Clean Water State Revolving Fund;
• Clean up contaminated sediments by fully funding the Great Lakes Legacy Act;
• Close the door on aquatic invasive species;
• Restore valuable fish and wildlife resources by fully funding the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act;
• Provide sustainable funding for Great Lakes restoration; and

Be It Further Resolved, that these priorities are shared with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, Council of Great Lakes Industries, and the Healing Our Waters® - Great Lakes Coalition; and

Be It Finally Resolved, that the Great Lakes Commission calls on Congress and President Obama to be equal partners with the eight Great Lakes states in restoring the Great Lakes and making them a central component of a brighter future for our region.

Adopted at the 2009 Seminnual Meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, Washington, D.C., Feb. 23-24, 2009.