Great Lakes protection bill introduced

Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, along with five other Great Lakes Senators, has introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Environmental Protection Act. The bill will authorize additional resources for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The bill would also establish a Great Lakes Leadership Council and Management Committee, a two-tiered advisory group to ensure effective collaboration of great lakes restoration and protection efforts.

In commenting on her bill, Klobuchar said, “The Great Lakes are a significant part of Minnesota’s heritage and this bill ensures they will be protected for the future.” She added that the bill will spur job creation and put the resources in place to restore the Great Lakes and protect them from the spread of the harmful Asian Carp.

The Great Lakes Environmental Protection Act will authorize funding for the Great Lakes Legacy Program.  The Legacy Program was first authorized in 2002 and has been successful at removing contaminated sediment from areas that have been severely degraded by pollution. 

Klobuchar was joined by Great Lakes senators including Al Franken. An identical bill was introduced in the House of Representatives authored by Michigan Congressmen Vern Ehlers and John Dingell.