On the recordSeptember 4, 2002
I rise in support of the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002. America is often called the land of plenty, especially when it comes to our natural resources. Few places on Earth are more blessed than we are, and the Great Lakes stand out among our many blessings. I am pleased to be the author of this legislation because it will protect this precious resource, our Great Lakes. Let me describe just how important the Great Lakes are, both to citizens within the Great Lakes basin and to the country as a whole. The Great Lakes constitute almost 20 percent of the Earth's surface fresh water and 95 percent of the surface fresh water in the United States. Let me repeat that: 95 percent of the surface fresh water in the United States.
Source
govinfo.gov
