Good news for the environment in the Midwest:

Congress passed a budget for 2014 through bipartisan negotiations.  That means that both sides gained some things and both sides lost some funding items, losses that we as progressives really care about.  In the plus column, we did get the full funding requested by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) requested.The $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is so important for the Great Lakes region and critical for the well-being of our state.

Please read the announcement and other good news from Clean Wisconsin:

Success!

Because we know you care about the Great Lakes, we wanted to share some great news.

Last week, Congress released its fiscal year 2014 spending bill and it contains $300 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) … full funding and exactly what we asked for!

GLRI supports on-the-ground work all around the Great Lakes to combat threats like invasive species such as Asian carp, disgusting and destructive algae blooms, bacteria that lead to beach closings, dangerous toxic substances in the water and more. It also protects and restores habitat for fish and wildlife and public access to the lakes. It is a highly successful and critically important program that at one point last summer was handed a whopping 85% cut.

In its four years, this model program has created positive economic, environmental and public health benefits for Wisconsin and the other Great Lakes states. This is a majority victory for the Great Lakes and the millions of people like you and me who depend on them. Thank you!

ANOTHER VICTORY: Last fall, we asked you to tell your legislators to support a bill that would provide additional funding for better management of sea lamprey, a nasty invasive species that has the potential to wreak havoc on lakes Michigan and Superior. Thanks to supporters like you, that bill is now law!

IN OTHER GREAT LAKES NEWS: The Army Corps of Engineers has released its long-awaited report on options (8, to be exact) to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. While we missed a public hearing held in Milwaukee earlier this month, we'll be asking you to submit comments on the options soon.
 
Thank you for being with us and for caring about our Great Lakes.