Michigan LCV staff members make a splash in DC

For their fourth year in a row, Executive Director Lisa Wozniak and Deputy Director Kerry Duggan headed out to Washington, DC to discuss Great Lakes issues.

From time to time, Michigan LCV partners with other non-profits around the state and region to create a louder voice in support of our issues. In this case, we are members of the Healing Our Waters (HOW) Great Lakes Coalition, consisting of more than 100 environmental, conservation, outdoor recreation organizations, zoos, aquariums and museums, representing millions of people whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes.

On February 23 and 24, we joined over 100 citizens from the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in our nation’s capital, to urge Congress and President Obama to support programs that are essential to restoring the largest surface fresh-water resource in the world and prevent the Asian carp from decimating the Great Lakes.

Lisa and Kerry led meetings directly with Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congressman Mark Schauer (MI-07), Congressman Gary Peters (MI-09), each earning 100% LCV scores on the 2009 National Environmental Scorecard, as well as with the staff of Senator Carl Levin and Congressman John D. Dingell (MI-03) who earned 100% and 93% 2009 LCV scores respectively. Together, our coalition met with over 85 Hill offices!

The message we delivered was simple (and well-received): Michigan needs an all-out effort to beat back the Asian carp and a commitment by Congress to restore funding for successful restoration programs that create jobs, while laying the foundation for long-term prosperity.

Kerry also took time to enjoy lunch with retiring Congressman (and special HOW honoree) Vern Ehlers (MI-03) to say thanks for his 16 years of service to our state (as well as his admirable 59% lifetime LCV score).

We encourage every Michigander to call the US House and Senate (at 202-224-3121) to ask for these three things:
• Fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million;
• Take aggressive action to prevent the Asian carp from taking hold in the Great Lakes, while working toward the permanent separation of the Mississippi and Great Lakes basins; and
• Pass Great Lakes restoration legislation that propels restoration forward by establishing a restoration framework to ensure transparent priority-setting, accountability, and most importantly action.

One important factoid to note: the much-respected Brookings Institution found that restoring the Great Lakes will bring the eight-state region at least $2 in economic benefit for every $1 investment. Lisa and Kerry are proud to be out there fighting for our Michigan way of life.

They did enjoy some down time at the Canadian Embassy for a reception drawing over 300 folks from the Great Lakes community and including speeches from Senators Voinovich, Levin, and Stabenow.