[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1901-E1902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILD-LIFE RESTORATION ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 27, 2006

  Mr. KIRK. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2430, the 
Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act. I would like to thank 
Mr. Kildee (D-MI) for his leadership on this critical effort to restore 
one of our nation's most precious natural resources.
  The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act reauthorizes the 
Fish and Wildlife Service to double the annual grants to States and 
tribes for the enhancement, conservation and restoration of fish and 
wildlife habitats in the Great Lakes. Since 1998, $3.9 million in 
federal funds and $2.7 million in non-federal matching funds were 
directed toward these efforts. The Act clearly draws vast participation 
from the Great Lakes communities in restoring this tremendous resource.

[[Page E1902]]

  A key component of this legislation is wetland restoration. In 
Illinois, wetlands provide protective habitats for the forty percent of 
the state's endangered species and help stave off major flooding. 
Unfortunately, a staggering ninety percent of Illinois' wetlands have 
been destroyed. Through grants provided by the Great Lakes Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Act, 68 acres of rare wetlands in the northeastern 
Illinois' Nature Preserves were restored. Another eight wetland 
restoration projects were undertaken in the Chicago area. We must 
provide the authorization and management to continue such restoration 
and reverse the rapid rate of wetland destruction around the Great 
Lakes.
  I want to thank Chad Lord from the Healing Our Waters--Great Lakes 
Coalition, Cameron Davis of the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and all 
the other organizations that work tirelessly on behalf of our 
environment and the Great Lakes. I urge my colleagues to support this 
bi-partisan legislation so that we may continue our mission to provide 
for the long-term sustainability of this treasured ecosystem.

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