Great Lakes Day 2023
As part of Great Lakes 2023, OCF Executive Director Matt Misicka joined colleagues from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to urge members of Congress to support federal investments that protect fisheries, habitat, drinking water, public health, jobs, and quality of life for millions of Americans that call the Great Lakes Basin home.
Participants met with Representatives and Senators to promote a policy agenda that included:
- Funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $425 million to clean up toxic pollution, restore fish and wildlife habitat, reduce farm runoff, and prevent and manage invasive species.
- Funding the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund at $4.6 billion and $4.1 billion, respectively, to support community efforts top upgrade wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
- Supporting a Farm Bill that maintains robust funding for conservation programs that incentivize farmers, ranchers, and producers to use specific sustainable practices to protect soil and water quality and create wildlife habitat.
- Supporting clean water protection by supporting the EPA’s Waters of the United States Rule, establishing limits on toxic “forever chemicals” like PFAS in drinking water, and funding efforts to protect families from lead poisoning.
Misicka participated in meetings with Representatives Beatty, Carey, Joyce , Miller, and Wenstrup and both Senators Brown and Vance.
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