What's New
In the wake of Gov. Taft's call for swift congressional action to address the
problems facing Lake Erie, Ohio PIRG has launched our Restore Lake Erie Initiative.
The centerpiece of our effort is the Great Lakes Environmental Restoration Act—legislation,
introduced by Sen. DeWine and sponsored by Sen. Voinovich, that would dedicate
$6 billion over 10 years to restoring and protecting all of the Great Lakes.
With strong bipartisan support, including the backing of Ohio's top Republican
officeholders, we have a terrific opportunity to convince President Bush to
make the first down payment on this plan by putting $600 million into his next
federal budget.
To read the Great Lakes
Environmental Restoration Act (S. 1398), go to http://thomas.loc.gov/
and enter S. 1398 in the bill number field at the top of the page.
Read
the governor's remarks.
How You Can Help
Sen. DeWine and Sen. Voinovich have taken the first important steps, but we
need our senators to ask President Bush for a firm commitment to dedicate funds
to the restoration of the Great Lakes. You can help. Click
here to take action.
Brief
Summary
How important is Lake Erie to Ohio? The lake supplies drinking water to 11 million
people. It supports the largest sport fishery in the Great Lakes and the largest
commercial fishery in the world, earning the fishing industry $1 billion a year.
It generates another $2.5 million a year in revenue for the tourist industry.
And last but not least, it is a natural wonder, providing habitat for fish and
other wildlife, including the beloved but endangered piping plover.
Unfortunately, Lake Erie
also has its share of problems. More than 8 billion pounds of toxic pollution
have been dumped into the lake, hundreds of its beaches are closed each year
due to sewage overflows, and 80 percent of its coastal wetlands have been destroyed.
Ohio's local communities
have plenty of ideas on how to solve these problems, if only they had the funds
to put their ideas to work. That's why it's so exciting that Republicans and
Democrats alike are coming together around the idea of providing the funds necessary
to restore Lake Erie and all of the Great Lakes. Ohio PIRG is working to secure
this funding by supporting the Great Lakes Environmental Restoration Act, introduced
by Sen. DeWine, sponsored by Sen. Voinovich and supported by Gov. Taft. More.
Links
Great
Lakes Information Network: Lake Erie
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency: Lake Erie
Great
Lakes United
