Issue Position: Great Lakes

Issue Position

Residents of West Michigan have long understood the importance of the Great Lakes, but if you get outside of the region, some folks don't quite grasp how these picturesque settings, beautiful beaches, and pristine sunsets, play a vital role in our economy.
Thousands of Michigan jobs rely on the Great Lakes being navigable. I have led the charge to make sure money set aside for harbor maintenance is actually used for its intended purpose -- harbor maintenance. Additionally, I have helped spearhead the effort to change the way the federal government views the Great Lakes.
By having the Great Lakes classified as a unified system, it will not only help make sure the jobs currently in existence stay here in Michigan, it allows private companies in Michigan to grow, expand, and create more new jobs. Our ports and harbors are vital to Michigan's economy, its imperative we keep them properly dredged and fully navigable and I will continue to work to make sure that happens.
When talking about the Great Lakes we must also discuss ways to protect them from the negative impacts of invasive species. In order to combat the spread of invasive species, we must develop a comprehensive strategy. This strategy should include: improvements to the Chicago Area Waterway System, locks that are strategically located and have one-way control points, and over the long, run permanent hydrologic separation of the Mississippi River Basin from the Great Lakes should be pursued. This won't be an easy task; however with cooperation from other Great Lakes States, it can be done.
This year, I was honored to be named as the Great Lakes Legislator of the Year by the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force for my concerted efforts to improve the Great Lakes. Additionally, I will continue to work closely with my Great Lakes colleagues in a bipartisan manner to promote, preserve, and defend our beautiful lakes.

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