John Moolenaar: “I come to the floor today to thank all of the Members who voted to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. In…”

“I come to the floor today to thank all of the Members who voted to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. In the appropriations legislation the House passed 2 weeks ago, we included $300 million in the fiscal year 2018 budget for protecting our Great Lakes. The Great Lakes are a critical resource and an essential part of Michigan's outdoor heritage. They are enjoyed by millions of Americans from across the country, and they are a unique ecosystem with one-fifth of the world's freshwater. They are also a major trade route and they form an international border. There is a Federal role for protecting the Great Lakes, and by working with public and private organizations like Michigan's universities and Ducks Unlimited, the GLRI does vital work to protect the Great Lakes and the streams, rivers, and wetlands that flow into them. Again, I want to thank all of my colleagues for their support of this critical program. ____________________”