[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 14, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             WATER IS LIFE

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, America's Great Lakes constitute the largest 
body of fresh water on Earth. Water is life.
  I rise to highlight the importance of legislation to reauthorize the 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative introduced last week.
  As co-chair of the congressional Great Lakes Task Force and a senior 
member of the House Appropriations Committee, funding the GLRI is among 
my highest priorities.
  The district I represent traces much of the southern rim of Lake 
Erie's westernmost watershed, the largest in the entire Great Lakes.
  Our citizens know how important protecting our Great Lakes is for 
today and the tomorrows to come. The GLRI provides instrumental funding 
to meet enormous unmet environmental needs for our region and the 
millions of people who depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking 
water, livelihoods, and leisure.
  In 2020, the Great Lakes contributed $3.1 trillion to our economy, 
25.8 million jobs, and $1.3 trillion in wages.

  Analysis shows that every GLRI dollar spent produces $3.35 in 
economic activity, which demonstrates a clear return on investment.
  Supporting GLRI benefits the quality of these precious lakes, the 
adjoining communities, and the people who depend on them for the 
sustenance of life.
  Supporting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is just common 
sense.

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