DES MOINES, IOWA— Today, at the Midwestern Legislative Conference of State Governments, State Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL – South Saint Paul, MN) presented a resolution calling on the federal government to fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The resolution passed unanimously. President Trump has proposed eliminating funding for the decades long initiative.
“It’s great to see bipartisan support among legislators in the Midwest for our precious Great Lakes,” remarked Rep. Hansen. “It’s wholly irresponsible for President Trump to propose eliminating funding for this bipartisan effort. Communities, businesses, government officials and elected representatives from across the Midwest worked for decades to get to the point we are now, we cannot shirk our responsibility to keep our waters clean.”
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative provides essential funding to restore and protect the Great Lakes by removing toxic substances, slowing the spread of invasive species, addressing pollution, and protecting and restoring habitats. President Trump proposed ending ongoing funding and a partnership between the states and federal government authorized most recently in 2016.