Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Joyce and Chairwoman Napolitano for their leadership on this matter. I rise today in support of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act to protect and improve the health of the Great Lakes and directly benefit the surrounding region.

I hail from Chicago and the Nation's gold coast along Lake Michigan. We know how important a healthy Great Lakes system is. Lake Michigan is not only Chicago's primary drinking water source, it is part of the largest freshwater source in the world, our beloved Great Lakes. Lake Michigan is a tremendous recreational resource and economic asset for Chicago and the State of Illinois.

Longstanding concerns, like the potential of Asian carp migrating into the lake, underscore the importance of advancing this important legislation.

This bill will support many projects important to the region. Chicago public schools, for example, were able to install green infrastructure and new community space at four elementary schools. The project added 1.2 million gallons of onsite stormwater storage capacity to reduce stormwater runoff throughout Chicago.

In Beach Park, Illinois, a project helped stabilize and protect streambed habitat. This, in turn, reduced nutrient pollution, sediment runoff, and increased water quality in both Bull Creek and Lake Michigan.

This bill will provide a much-needed increase in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to support the continued restoration of coastal wetlands, the preservation of water quality, and the control of invasive species.

H.R. 4031 will protect the Great Lakes for future generations. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I thank Chairwoman Napolitano and Representative Joyce for advancing this important measure.

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