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U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12) today warned on the House floor that war is being declared on the Great Lakes. President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposal released today eliminates funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The GLRI addresses the biggest threats facing the Great Lakes by investing in projects that clean up toxic pollution, restore wildlife habitat and combat invasive species.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today because war is being declared on the Great Lakes.

“Those of us who live in the Great Lakes region recognize that the current times are anything but usual.

“The Great Lakes account for 21 percent of the world’s freshwater supply and are a major thoroughfare for transportation, commerce, trade, as well as recreation and tourism.

“Critical investments over the last decade have helped clean up and protect these waters, and that work is now in danger. Much is preventable and it must be stopped.

“President Trump’s budget released today virtually eliminates funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which will cause significant harm to our communities, jobs, and our way of life. This jeopardizes our ability to fight back against invasive species that threaten the region's biodiversity, including Asian carp. It also impacts vital cleanup projects that ensure our water is safe to drink. And there are those that want to store nuclear waste near the lakes as well.

“It’s not a partisan issue; it is an American issue.”