It didn’t take long after the release of an economic report that illustrates how investing in the Great Lakes will reinvigorate regional economies for a bipartisan team of Congressmen to circulate a “Dear Colleague” letter – adding to the growing momentum for restoration.
“The environmental necessity for Great Lakes restoration is well-documented. Now the economic benefit of addressing these problems is also clear. We cannot wait any longer to undertake these initiatives and to provide the necessary resources to get it done,” Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) wrote.
Read: we want the lakes restored and we want it yesterday! Now with findings that show investing in the recommendations put forth in the 2005 Great Lakes Restoration Collaboration Strategy will actually pay for itself and generate a profit for the region, including more jobs, higher property values and enhancing quality of life – lawmakers are armed with significant data to get the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementation Act passed.
The September 6 letter, signed by Ehlers, Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) , Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and John Dingell (D-Mich.) urges Congress to action. Now is the time to pass the Great Lakes Restoration Act of 2007, if not to save an unrivaled national resource, well, then to save the region from further economic ruin.
“The total economic benefit will indeed be significantly higher, which is welcome news for a region hard hit by manufacturing job losses and slow economic growth,” the letter states.
Healthy Waters, Strong Economy, was released last week by the Brookings Institution. To read more about the report from its main author, leading economist Robert Litan, click here.
Related posts:
- Great Lakes Allies in Congress Rally Around New Report
- Coalition Convenes in D.C. to Urge Action on Great Lakes Restoration, Economic Recovery
- Chambers of Commerce Fly to D.C. to Push Economic Recovery, Great Lakes Restoration
- $50 Billion in Economic Benefit Hinge on Restoration of Great Lakes
- Elected Officials React to New Economic Report