Columbus, OH — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) joined a panel of leaders on Wednesday to celebrate a $1 billion provision in the federal bipartisan infrastructure law aimed at cleaning up and restoring the Great Lakes region. Rep. Kaptur and leaders also called for additional climate investments at the federal level.
“We want clean water and we want clean air,” said Rep. Kaptur. “Programs like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, where we’ve been able to [invest] an additional $1 billion, become even more important as we try to help communities across the Great Lakes region restore themselves and restore our Great Lakes—and that is a job that is far from over.”
“Ohioans understand that Lake Erie is critical to our state’s drinking water, recreation, and economy. To protect the Great Lakes against the impacts of climate change, it is critical that we pass a federal climate bill that will invest in climate action here in Ohio. We are grateful for Congresswoman Kaptur’s strong and impactful work to protect clean water and the health of our Lake through federal legislation,” said Trish Demeter, Interim President of the OEC Action Fund.
Leaders joining the event included Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan (MI-5), Congressman Brian Higgins of New York (NY-26), Wisconsin State Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, State Representative Ryan Bizzarro of Pennsylvania, and Minnesota State Senator Jen McEwen.
The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) will make an important difference for one of the world’s most vital water resources. The Great Lakes are the world’s largest source of freshwater, supplying drinking water for more than 40 million people.
Sadly, the Great Lakes have suffered pollution and industrial and environmental degradation that threatens human health and wildlife in the region. In addition to protecting our freshwater supply, IIJA will create green union jobs as projects are launched to remove contaminated soil, restore wetlands, remove invasive species, and make the Great Lakes region resilient against the worst impacts of climate change. Already, the Great Lakes economy supports over 1.3 million jobs. More investment in cleanup and renewal of the Great Lakes’ ecology will mean more economic growth.
IIJA funding provides critical funding to protect the Great Lakes, but more investment is needed. Rep. Kaptur and other elected officials also called on Congress to take further action and pass the remainder of President Biden’s climate and environmental agenda, including for funding to address flood damage, strengthen infrastructure and modernize ports. This massive investment in climate action would be a historic investment in the future of the Great Lakes and the communities that depend upon them.
You can watch the discussion here:
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The OEC Action Fund, a 501c4 organization, seeks to protect and enhance the environment, economic viability, and health of all Ohio communities by expanding access to public lands, advancing critical environmental priorities, holding policy makers accountable, and electing environmental champions.