WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-18), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Candice Miller (MI-10) introduced bipartisan legislation yesterday to support fish and wildlife in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2016, last reauthorized in 2006, directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to work with states and other agencies to develop and execute proposals to conserve, restore and manage fish and wildlife populations, and their habitats. Since 1998, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act has provided federal funding to 148 research and restoration projects in the Great Lakes Basin that target challenges like habitat restoration, fish species reproduction, and Asian Carp. With Illinois bordering Lake Michigan and the Midwest region home to additional Great Lakes, this legislation will have a positive impact on daily commercial, recreational, and preservation activities throughout the waterways in Illinois.
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“As a father who regularly enjoys the outdoors with my three sons, I am pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Congresswoman Candice Miller. Reauthorizing and updating the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act will increase economic opportunities for our fishermen and improve conservation efforts,” stated Rep. Darin LaHood. “As a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, I look forward to continuing to be a champion in Congress for the proper maintenance of our Great Lakes.”
“As someone who grew up on the St. Clair River, protecting the Great Lakes and its diverse species is personal to me and to so many who call Michigan home,” said Rep. Dingell. “The Great Lakes are a way of life – providing fresh water, fish and wildlife habitat, and countless opportunities for recreation, while supporting our state’s economy and hundreds of thousands of jobs. We’ve seen what happens when we all work together to protect our Great Lakes, and I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues Congresswoman Miller and Congressman LaHood to conserve fish and wildlife, combat the threat of invasive species, and protect the Great Lakes for generations to come.”
“Throughout my tenure, one of my principal advocacies has been protecting and preserving our magnificent Great Lakes and the diverse wildlife that call them home,” said Rep. Candice Miller. “For those of us who grew up along the shores of the Great Lakes, we understand that they are more than just a recreational joy, they are a way of life – the way we put food on the table and pay the mortgage. Supporting billions of dollars of recreational and commercial industries each year, as well as 20% of the world’s surface fresh water supply, the vitality of our Great Lakes is critical to the vivacity of our region and the world. The reauthorization and update of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act will continue to provide the resources the Fish and Wildlife Service needs to protect our precious Great Lakes.”
“The Great Lakes region in some areas has lost 90 percent of its historical wetlands,” said David Brakhage, Ducks Unlimited Great Lakes/Atlantic Regional director. “The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act is an invaluable resource in Ducks Unlimited’s efforts to protect and restore wetlands, which provides habitat for hundreds of wildlife species and clean drinking and recreational water for millions of people.”
“The Alliance for the Great Lakes supports the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2016 which is critical to sustainable fish and wildlife management in our region,” said Molly M. Flanagan, Vice President for Policy at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. “We thank Congresswomen Dingell and Miller and Congressman LaHood for their leadership in sponsoring this legislation and for recognizing the importance of a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem to Great Lakes communities.”
“The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act has, since 1990, supported essential efforts to restore fish and wildlife populations in the Great Lakes basin,” said Robert Lambe, executive secretary of the binational Great Lakes Fishery Commission. “The law also has led to habitat improvement, better law enforcement, and stronger connections between those who manage fisheries and those who manage wildlife. It is truly an ecosystem-based approach. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission is a solid supporter of this bill and commends Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Congresswoman Candice Miller, and Congressman Darin LaHood for their leadership and support for the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery.”
The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act has also been endorsed by the The Nature Conservancy Illinois, American Sportfishing Association, Trout Unlimited, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, and the Ohio Conservation Federation. The bill would authorize $6 million annually through 2021 to implement restoration projects and FWS activities related to the Great Lakes region, and would require a 25% non-federal match of total project cost. For more information, please click here.
