[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2085]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      GREAT LAKES-ST. LAWRENCE RIVER BASIN WATER RESOURCES COMPACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 22, 2008

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support S.J. Res. 45, 
the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact. This 
bill will help protect the Great Lakes by ensuring that water taken 
from the Great Lakes does not exceed the rate the lakes can be 
naturally replenished.
  Lake Michigan is, without question, the most treasured resource to 
residents in States that border it and is our ``Grand Canyon,'' 
something in which we take enormous pride. In addition to its 
sentimental value, the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, serve as 
an important resource, providing 20 percent of all the surface water in 
the world, Despite their size the Great Lakes are a fragile resource. 
Only 1 percent of the water in the Great Lakes gets replenished by snow 
and rainwater every year.
  As a result, the Great Lakes have been put in jeopardy by efforts to 
divert large portions of water from the Great Lake basin to support 
business efforts throughout the midwest and Canada. The Compact will 
prohibit new or increased Great Lakes basin diversions to outside the 
region, except under special circumstances to provide public drinking 
water. It will also require all Great Lakes States to develop water 
resource inventories and efficiency programs, and give public notice of 
large proposed new water uses. Finally, it will establish uniform 
standards across the Great Lake States for evaluating new in-basin uses 
of Great Lakes water. These all are good practices of stewardship of 
the Great Lakes, and will allow us to preserve the Lakes, while at the 
same time exercising intelligent use of it as a natural resource.
  The Great Lakes Compact has been approved by the Governors and State 
legislators of all eight Great Lake States, the U.S. Senate and the 
Bush administration. I believe that it is vital that the House joins 
them in supporting the Compact. Doing so will protect the people and 
environment of the Great Lakes by ensuring that the uses of its 
resources are done in a deliberate and consensual manner between the 
Great Lakes States.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence 
River Basin Water Resources Compact.

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