[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11893]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING THE HEALTHY LAKES, HEALTHY LIVES CAMPAIGN

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2008

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Healthy 
Lakes, Healthy Lives tour. The Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives tour, 
organized by the Healing our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, is designed 
to raise awareness and call for action on the problems facing our 
lakes. Healing Our Waters is lead by the National Wildlife Federation 
and the National Parks Conservation Association and includes over 100 
fishing, boating hunting, birding, conservation and environmental 
organizations. I would like to congratulate them for their continuing 
work to improve the health of the Great Lakes.
  To start the historic tour, the Earth Voyager, one of the fastest 
sailing vessels on the Great Lakes, made its first stop in Buffalo, New 
York at the newly developed site along the historic Erie Canal. As a 
main water route to the mid-West the Great Lakes shaped the 
demographics of our nation. When the Erie Canal first opened in 1825 it 
connected the East to the Great Lakes and brought a surge in population 
and commerce which lead Buffalo to incorporate as a city in 1832. 
Buffalo's strategic position on the Great Lakes contributed 
significantly to its early rise to prominence; at the turn of the last 
century Buffalo was America's largest inland port and the leader in the 
transshipment of grain and several other commodities. The Western New 
York Division of Citizens Campaign for the Environment helped lead 
coordination of events during the Earth Voyager's 5 day stop in 
Buffalo, NY.
  Containing over twenty percent of the world's fresh water, the Great 
Lakes are an enormous natural asset to this nation. Nearly two 
centuries ago the Lakes shaped this nation by providing for the early 
movement of settlers and commerce in America. Now we are at a critical 
point in history where we must take action today to protect and 
preserve the Great Lakes as a means to shape this nation's 
environmental and economic future.
  The ship departs Buffalo, NY for stops in Erie, PA, Toledo, OH, 
Detroit MI, Port Huron MI, Sarnia, Ontario, Chicago, IL, Traverse City, 
MI, Grand Haven, MI, Milwaukee, WI, Bay City MI, Cleveland, OH and 
Rochester, NY. On its tour, the Earth Voyager will help carry our 
message and emphasize the importance of revitalizing the Great Lakes.

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