Source: Wikipedia

Source: Wikipedia

Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar are among several cosponsors of legislation aimed at cleaning up the Great Lakes. Introduced in the Senate last week, the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act of 2010 would commit $500 million over the next 7 years on cleanup and restoration of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Along with Minnesota’s Senate delegation, Democratic Sens. Carl Levin, Sherrod Brown, Dick Durban, Debbie Stabenow and George Voinovich have signed on to support the legislation. In the House, none of Minnesota’s delegation are listed as supporters of the companion bill.

“This monumental legislation adds momentum to Great Lakes restoration and sets in place a framework for the future,” said Lynn McClure, co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and midwest regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association in a statement last week. “We applaud the President for proposing his Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and we applaud Congress for introducing bi-partisan legislation that recognizes the national importance of the Great Lakes to our economy and way of life.”

“This legislation means we all have a say in making sure Great Lakes restoration is done right,” said Jill Ryan, co-chair of Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and executive director of Freshwater Future. “Passage of this bill will pay huge dividends for the people, businesses and communities which rely on the lakes 365 days a year. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass this bill, before the problems get worse and the solutions get more costly.”