Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact

GREAT LAKES--ST. LAWRENCE RIVER BASIN WATER RESOURCES COMPACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - September 24, 2008)

* Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, the Great Lakes Compact before the House today is the result of years of efforts by the Great Lakes governors, other elected officials including state legislators from both sides of the partisan divide, and others who live, work, or recreate in the region to work together to help ensure a set of shared principles and protections for the Great Lakes.

* The collaboration that has produced the compact that is before us today was undertaken because of concerns that without a comprehensive and basin wide approach to the current and future threats to these bodies of water, we would lose them.

* These threats include a growing demand for water by users--including utilities, agriculture, manufacturers, concerns about the impacts of climate change, declining water levels of the Lakes, and pollution.

* While the agreement has widespread support among elected officials, environmental groups, and others, I do understand that some have raised concerns about some aspects of the agreement.

* That is to be expected because while this is a good agreement it is by no means a perfect agreement. It wasn't meant to be perfect. If it was, we would still be waiting for an agreement.

* But it is a good agreement, especially since we know that simply doing nothing is not an option or solution. This agreement was good enough to bring governors from eight states and both sides of the aisle together. It was good enough to win the approval of legislatures in eight states (with a combined 1,300 legislators.)

* Together with companion efforts in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, the Compact would place new emphasis on a shared commitment to conservation and set new decision-making standards for Great Lakes water use.

* The compact would require each state to use a consistent standard to review proposed uses of basin water, ban new diversions of water from the basin, and calls for the development of regional goals and objectives for water conservation and efficiency.

* This legislation before us today would formally give Congress's assent to the compact, as required by law.

* The document before us today also is a recognition by the stakeholders who are bound by its terms--and with approval by the House, the Congress as well--that we all have a shared duty ``to act together to protect, conserve, restore, improve, and effectively manage the waters and water dependent natural resources'' of the Great Lakes basin ``for the use, benefit, and enjoyment of all citizens, including generations yet to come.''

* One of the most effective means to do this is through unified and cooperative policies and programs as outlined in this agreement. It would be a shame if after the hard work and negotiations and compromise that has shaped this process from day one, that Congress would let this opportunity slip away.

* The Senate has already approved this bill and I urge my colleagues here in the House to do likewise.

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