U.S. CONGRESS MESSAGE REPRESENTATIVE JACKIE WALORSKI (R-IN)

The states that make up the Great Lakes region – including my home state of Indiana – have shown that through collaboration and innovative thinking, we can be good stewards of both the environment and the economy. The Great Lakes are among our most precious natural resources and represent a key driver of economic growth. Protecting them for future generations is vital to communities in northern Indiana and across the region.

Bipartisan and international cooperation are hallmarks of efforts to keep the lakes clean, modernize and maintain water infrastructure, and strengthen the Great Lakes economy. As a member of the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force, I’ve supported key conservation and infrastructure investments, such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and projects managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.

These successful efforts have helped improve the Great Lakes and address environmental threats such as pollution, erosion, loss of native habitat, destructive algae blooms, and invasive species like Asian carp, sea lamprey, and zebra mussels.

Addressing these challenges includes maintaining and improving aging infrastructure and responding to dynamic environmental conditions through flexibility and innovation.

I recently joined my Great Lakes Task Force colleagues in urging the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize funding for projects vital to the Great Lakes region in its Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Work Plan. For instance, we called for improving our water transportation infrastructure by fully funding the new Soo Locks, which are essential to our nation’s economy and national defense.

The Soo Locks and other projects will repair and upgrade essential infrastructure, protect our natural resources, and ensure safe and efficient access to recreational areas and transportation corridors for the surrounding communities, including my district in northern Indiana.

Maintaining the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem and modernizing our water infrastructure are not only environmental issues. These are key economic priorities, too.

The Great Lakes support tens of thousands of jobs in a variety of industries, from outdoor recreation and manufacturing to steel production and agriculture. Americans have long enjoyed the lakes and shorelines for outdoor recreation, including fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. These activities drive our nation’s $778 billion outdoor recreation industry, which has an outsize impact on my district as home to numerous boat, RV, and trailer manufacturers and their suppliers. That’s why I was grateful to work with my fellow Hoosiers in Congress to pass a law in 2019 making the Indiana Dunes our state’s first national park. Now this treasured site, which hugs the southern shore of Lake Michigan about 20 miles northwest of my district, will draw even more visitors from across the country, enhancing Americans’ appreciation for the Great Lakes.

Countless American businesses and farmers also depend on the Great Lakes for the efficient transportation of goods. According to the Great Lakes Seaway Partnership, shipping on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System in 2017 supported $35 billion in economic activity and more than 230,000 American and Canadian jobs. Because they play an essential role in commercial shipping, the Great Lakes are key to the trade relationship between the United States and Canada – especially now that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is in effect. This modernized trade agreement, combined with efforts to improve navigation infrastructure and keep the Seaway open when Lake water levels fluctuate, will only strengthen an already robust trading partnership and enable American producers to access new export markets.

As we work to recover from the coronavirus crisis and rebuild our economy, the Great Lakes will no doubt play a central role in creating opportunities for growth and job creation. My fellow Hoosiers and our neighbors across the Great Lakes region know firsthand how important the lakes are to our past, present, and future. From maintaining the ecological health of the Great Lakes to strengthening our aging infrastructure, I am committed to continuing bipartisan efforts to ensure this natural treasure remains a vital part of American life for generations to come. n