[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 58 (Thursday, May 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E900-E901]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND 
                RESTORATION PROGRAMS REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2005

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce comprehensive 
legislation to protect and restore the Great Lakes. I am pleased to be 
joined by Rep. Mark Kirk and 17 bipartisan original cosponsors.
  The Great Lakes are a national treasure, providing drinking water to 
millions of people and supporting billions of dollars in trade, 
fishing, and recreation. While we have taken steps to improve 
environmental conditions in the basin, the Great Lakes still suffer 
from pollution from contaminated sediments, storm water and 
agricultural runoff, and wetlands and coastal habitat loss.
  As its name indicates, the Great Lakes Environmental Protection and 
Restoration Programs Reauthorization Act reauthorizes several federal 
Great Lakes environmental programs in one comprehensive package. The 
bill also provides a mechanism for coordinating activities among the 
various federal agencies that carry out these programs, along with a 
process for coordination and future planning among federal, state and 
local program managers and the private sector. Finally, the bill 
reauthorizes the State Revolving Loan Fund under the Clean Water Act, 
in order to address wastewater infrastructure needs.
  The bill provides about $4 billion over 6 years by increasing the 
authorization levels for current major environmental programs operating 
in the Great Lakes Basin. Mr. Speaker, I believe that the most 
effective way to undertake a major restoration initiative is to do so

[[Page E901]]

within the context of current programs, through higher funding and 
improved coordination among federal, state, and local agencies and 
cooperation with interested stakeholders. The bill includes federal 
programs at the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Agriculture, 
the Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  The bill is specifically targeted to address the costly big-ticket 
items that will have a dramatic impact on improving the health of the 
Lakes. This includes $1.65 billion for cleaning up Areas of Concern, a 
total that is consistent with recent low-end estimates from site 
experts on AOC sediment remediation needs. It also provides $640 
million for fisheries, wildlife, ecosystem and habitat restoration 
programs.
  The bill provides about $900 million for research and monitoring 
programs at the EPA, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory 
(GLERL) within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
the Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) within the U.S. Geological Survey 
(USGS). The bill also authorizes extramural grants to public 
universities and private institutions to conduct this important work. 
These activities are critical to the successful planning, 
implementation and oversight of restoration efforts.
  The bill also reauthorizes the national State Revolving Loan Fund and 
provides $20 billion over 5 years to assist communities with the 
critical task of upgrading and improving their wastewater 
infrastructure. This piece is taken from H.R. 1560, passed by the Water 
Resources Subcommittee in the 108th Congress. Sewer system needs are a 
critical component of keeping the Great Lakes and their tributaries 
clean, and the State Revolving Loan Fund has been a successful program 
for helping cities and towns undertake these very expensive upgrades.
  Finally, the bill codifies Executive Order #13340, signed by the 
President in May 2004, and codifies the regional collaboration process 
outlined in conjunction with the E.O. on December 3, 2004, by the 
Administrator of the EPA, the Great Lakes governors, tribal leaders, 
several Members of Congress, and others. This will continue to improve 
collaboration among the many projects and programs operating in the 
Basin and ensure long-term stability to the preparation and oversight 
of the comprehensive restoration action plan currently under 
development.
  Mr. Speaker, we have a responsibility to clean up and to protect this 
precious resource. My bill provides the funding and the coordination 
necessary to implement the programs we have in place and to accomplish 
the shared goals of the region. I urge my colleagues to support this 
important legislation.

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