Rep. Farhat offered the following concurrent resolution:

            House Concurrent Resolution No. 36.

            A concurrent resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act.

            Whereas, The Great Lakes are a natural wonder of the world. The Great Lakes contain one-fifth of the world's fresh surface water, forming the largest fresh surface water system on earth. The Great Lakes provide drinking water, food, recreation, and transportation to more than 35 million United States residents; and

            Whereas, The Great Lakes affect all aspects of life in Michigan and are inextricably linked to Michigan's history, culture, and economy. The Great Lakes fuel Michigan’s tourism and outdoor recreation industry. Recreational fishing alone adds $1.4 billion annually to the state’s economy; and

            Whereas, The Great Lakes are ailing from serious environmental problems, including aquatic invasive species introductions, toxic contamination of sediments, and sewage overflows. These problems will have long-lasting effects on the Great Lakes, Michigan’s economy, and our way of life if they are not addressed; and

            Whereas, The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration--an unprecedented collaborative partnership of 1,500 federal, state, and local government officials and program managers, scientists, and interested private stakeholders--completed a strategic action plan to restore and protect the Great Lakes in December 2005. The consensus-based strategic action plan recommends that the states and the federal government take substantial new steps to restore and protect the Great Lakes and address the most critical threats to the Lakes; and

            Whereas, The Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 5100 and S. 2545) has been introduced in the United States Congress to implement the strategic action plan. This bipartisan legislation would create new programs, renew the commitment to critical federal programs, and authorize $3.5 billion per year over five years to stop the introduction of aquatic invasive species, improve infrastructure to prevent sewage overflows, clean up contaminated sediments, restore fish and wildlife habitat, phase out the use of mercury in products, and increase project coordination and oversight; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That we memorialize the United States Congress to enact the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act (H.R. 5100 and S. 2545); and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.