[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7486]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 
represents our Nation's commitment to protecting the health of our 
Great Lakes, the largest source of fresh water in the world, 
representing $7 billion in economic activity annually.
  In western New York, the revitalization of Buffalo's Inner and Outer 
Harbor areas depends on efforts to restore the health of Lake Erie and 
the Buffalo River.
  The Environmental Protection Agency will soon host a series of public 
meetings to gain community input to guide the next phase of Great Lakes 
restoration, and one of the meetings will be held in Buffalo.
  Madam Speaker, the Great Lakes are a unique natural treasure with 
global significance. The Brookings Institution report shows that for 
every $1 invested in Great Lakes restoration, a $2 return in the form 
of increased fishing, tourism, and home values is achieved. It is our 
responsibility to ensure that the restoration initiative is fully 
funded in this year's appropriations, and also to be an active partner 
in protecting and restoring our Great Lakes.

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