WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, in an address at the annual Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast, hosted by the Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Great Lakes Commission, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel joined Chicago’s Mayor Richard M. Daley to thank the leaders of the Great Lakes community for their efforts to restore and preserve the Great Lakes for future generations of Americans.

            “The Great Lakes are healthier than they were 30 years ago, but their waters are still polluted and they are not getting any cleaner,” said Emanuel.

            In 2003, Emanuel became a leader in the movement to restore and protect the Great Lakes when he introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Fund, a bipartisan bill to provide $4 billion in federal funds for Great Lakes’ restoration and revitalization. The Great Lakes Restoration Fund received bipartisan support in the Senate, the support of one hundred and six members of the U.S. House of Representatives, all eight governors of Great Lakes States, and more than forty mayors of lakefront communities.

            Last spring President George W. Bush issued an Executive Order creating the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration. The Collaboration will review the problems confronting the lakes and develop a strategy to combat them. They will issue their final report in December.  

            “The President’s Executive Order is one step forward, but there are many roads ahead.” said Emanuel.  “While we await the findings of this newest report, we must continue our efforts to secure the necessary funding to protect our Great Lakes so that they are around for our children to enjoy.”

            Emanuel reintroduced this legislation in 109th Congress and fifty-three members of the House of Representatives have signed on to this bipartisan effort. Emanuel has a history of supporting efforts to improve the health of the Great Lakes including support for the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act, Great Lakes Legacy Act and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.