[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 121 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 121

Endorsing increased efforts to preserve and protect Lake St. Clair as a 
                 vital part of the Great Lakes system.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2003

   Mr. Levin (for himself and Mrs. Miller of Michigan) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, 
and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Endorsing increased efforts to preserve and protect Lake St. Clair as a 
                 vital part of the Great Lakes system.

Whereas the Great Lakes are a priceless and irreplaceable natural resource, 
        constituting the largest system of fresh surface water on Earth, holding 
        18 percent of the world's fresh surface water and over 90 percent of the 
        fresh surface water in the United States;
Whereas Lake St. Clair is a vitally important economic resource to Michigan and 
        to the United States, providing drinking water to 4.5 million people and 
        producing one-third of all fish caught in the Great Lakes each year;
Whereas the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956, the Clean Water Act of 1978, the 
        Great Lakes Shoreline Mapping Act of 1987, the Nonindigenous Aquatic 
        Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, and the Water Resources 
        Development Act of 2000, among other laws, include Lake St. Clair in the 
        definition of the Great Lakes for the purpose of programs and grants;
Whereas Lake St. Clair will benefit from the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002, 
        which provides funds to monitor and clean up contaminated sediments in 
        the Great Lakes Areas of Concern, including the St. Clair River and 
        Clinton River watersheds, which are adjacent to Lake St. Clair;
Whereas Lake St. Clair received special attention in the Water Resources 
        Development Act of 1999, which directed the Secretary of the Army to 
        prepare a comprehensive management plan for Lake St. Clair, a first 
        draft of which is scheduled for release in 2003;
Whereas despite environmental gains made in recent years, Lake St. Clair 
        continues to experience beach closings due to faulty sewage and septic 
        systems, combined sewer overflows, toxic contamination, and invasive 
        species;
Whereas Lake St. Clair is the ``Heart of the Great Lakes'' because of its 
        location and size, and its contribution to drinking water, recreation, 
        and commerce; and
Whereas increased attention and resources are needed to continue the 
        environmental progress that has been made with respect to Lake St. 
        Clair: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) affirms the economic, environmental, and cultural 
        importance of Lake St. Clair and the entire Great Lakes system 
        to the people of the United States;
            (2) commends the efforts that are being made to safeguard 
        Lake St. Clair from water pollution, toxic chemicals, and 
        nonindigenous species; and
            (3) calls on all Americans and all levels of government in 
        the United States to take additional actions and accelerate 
        existing efforts to preserve and protect Lake St. Clair as a 
        vital natural resource.
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