America's Great Waters Coalition Gather on Capitol Hill to Discuss Challenges Facing America's Great Waters

WHAT: Today, the America’s Great Waters Coalition met with Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and other decision makers about the challenges facing our nation’s 19 Great Waters, including attempts to cut essential restoration funding and harmful policy amendments that would weaken water resource protections. The America’s Great Waters Coalition consists of more than 75 local, regional, and national organizations that speak with a united voice and work together to nationalize Great Waters’ priorities, to strengthen regional restoration efforts.

WHO: Senator Debbie Stabenow (D- MI), and America’s Great Waters Coalition Co-chairs Theresa Pierno, Executive Vice President at the National Parks Conservation Association; Roy A. Hoagland, Vice President at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and Malia Hale, Director at the National Wildlife Federation

“As the home to the world’s largest fresh water supply, Michigan knows the importance of protecting our waters,” said Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “The Great Lakes supports a seven billion dollar recreational fishing industry and a $16 billion recreational boating industry, both of which create thousands of jobs in Michigan. We need to hold government accountable to reduce our debt, but abandoning clean water protection and putting thousands of jobs in jeopardy is shortsighted and wrong.”

“Together, with a united voice, we must protect threatened landmark legislation and restoration funding that have protected our nation’s waterways for more than a decade—waterways that are critical to our daily lives, drive local economies and enhance our national parks,” said Theresa Pierno, co-chair for the America’s Great Waters Coalition and executive vice president for the National Parks Conservation Association.

“The alarming number and severity of the congressional threats to America’s Great Waters endangers all of our Great Waters, said Roy A. Hoagland, co-chair for the America’s Great Waters Coalition and vice president at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “An attack on one is an attack on all. The time has come to just say “no” to each and every one of these attacks.”

“America’s Great Waters are essential to our nation’s growth and prosperity, providing not only drinking water but valuable jobs to millions of Americans,” said Malia Hale, co-chair for the America’s Great Waters Coalition and director for national restoration and water resources at the National Wildlife Federation.  “For example, a recent study by the Brookings Institution found that restoring the Great Lakes will bring the eight-state region at least $2 in economic benefits for every $1 of federal investment.”

WHY: About the Great Waters Coalition: More than a year ago, water restoration advocacy groups from across the country joined to launch the “America’s Great Waters Coalition,” to help nationalize water issues and to protect, preserve, and restore our nation’s Great Waters. To learn more about the Great Waters Coalition, and to view a map of America’s 19 Great Waters, please click here.

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