Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are critical to Michigan's economy and outdoor heritage. As a unique national treasure and the largest system of fresh surface water in the world, the Great Lakes provide drinking water for nearly 40 million people and are an economic driver that supports jobs, commerce, agriculture, transportation, and tourism.
It is imperative that we protect this vital asset against invasive species. Asian carp have been found less than ten miles from Lake Michigan. If Asian carp establish populations in the Great Lakes, they will devastate the region's fishing and boating industries. The Army Corps of Engineers must act quickly to take the necessary steps to protect our Great Lakes.
I strongly support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Since the initiative was launched in 2010, GLRI funds have been used to support over 3,000 restoration projects to improve water quality, protect and restore native habitat, clean up environmentally-impaired Areas of Concern, fight invasive species, and prevent beach closings. I will continue to work across the aisle to ensure funding for protecting the Great Lakes.
More on Great Lakes
by Congressman John Moolenaar
This past month has been tremendous for the Great Lakes. There were developments on three different fronts: funding for constructing a new lock at the Soo Locks, funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and a new plan to prevent Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan through the waterways near Chicago.
On May 21st, I voted for legislation in the House Appropriations Committee that fulfilled President Donald Trump's request for $75.3 million dollars to start building a new lock at the Soo Locks.