Reps. McDowell, Kolb, Polidori, Tobocman, Hood, Nofs, Plakas, Donigan, Espinoza, Brown, Adamini, Sak, Sheltrown, Cushingberry, Accavitti, Anderson, Angerer, Byrnes, Byrum, Clack, Condino, Farrah, Gonzales, Hopgood, David Law, Leland, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Miller, Murphy, Alma Smith, Spade, Vagnozzi, Waters and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 244.

            A resolution to urge the United States Congress to enact the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act of 2006.

            Whereas, The Great Lakes are a unique resource of national significance. The Great Lakes form the largest fresh surface water system on earth and contain 95 percent of North America’s fresh surface water. The Great Lakes provide drinking water, food, recreation, and transportation to more than 30 million people; and

            Whereas, The Great Lakes are a critical part of Michigan’s history, culture, economy, and identity. The Great Lakes fuel Michigan’s tourism and outdoor recreation industry. Fishing, hunting, and wildlife industries bring in $5 billion annually to the state’s economy; and

            Whereas, The Great Lakes are ailing from serious environmental problems, including aquatic invasive species, toxic contamination of sediments, raw sewage discharges, and coastal habitat loss. Combined, these problems will have long-lasting effects on the Great Lakes, Michigan’s economy, and our way of life; and

            Whereas, There has been an unprecedented collaborative effort on the part of 1,500 people, representing federal, state, and local governments, Native American tribes, nongovernmental entities and private citizens, to develop a strategy to restore and protect the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Regional Collaboration completed its strategic action plan in December 2005; and

            Whereas, The strategic action plan recommends that the states and the federal government take substantial new steps to restore and protect the Great Lakes and avert impending environmental threats; and

            Whereas, Successful implementation of the strategic action plan and restoration of the Great Lakes hinge on new and significant funding commitments from the federal government, similar to the commitments made for the restoration of the Florida Everglades and Chesapeake Bay on the East Coast; and

            Whereas, Bipartisan legislation in the United States House of Representatives and Senate has been introduced to implement the strategic action plan and to restore the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act 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, prevent inadequately treated sewage discharges, clean up contaminated sediments, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and phase out the use of mercury in products; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the United States Congress to enact the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act of 2006; 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.