[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12851]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         THE GREAT LAKES ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC PROTECTION ACT

  (Mr. JOYCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. JOYCE. Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes are truly one of the jewels 
of North America. They contain 20 percent of the world's surface water 
and provide drinking water for 30 million people. They're also a driver 
of our economy, as studies have shown 1.5 million jobs are directly 
connected to the Great Lakes, generating $62 billion in wages.
  That's why I'm encouraging my colleagues to support my Great Lakes 
Ecological and Economic Protection Act. This bill will help ensure we 
have a healthy Great Lakes, while boosting the economies along the 
Great Lakes region.
  This bill already enjoys bipartisan support, and I hope my colleagues 
will join me in protecting one of the most precious resources in North 
America, the Great Lakes.

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