LANSING – State Representative Mary Valentine (D-Norton Shores) today urged the U.S. Senate to override President Bush's veto of legislation authorizing critical Great Lakes projects, saying federal investment is needed to protect thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in income and economic development in Michigan and preserve our standing as the Great Lakes State.
"Numerous Michigan-based projects aimed at preserving our Great Lakes, including thousands of jobs for our workers and economic development dollars for our state, will not survive President Bush's veto of this vital legislation," Valentine said. "Failing to approve the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act would leave our Great Lakes defenseless against very serious economic and environmental problems and the results would be devastating for Michigan's economy."
The resolution urging Congress to override the presidential veto of the Water Resources Development Act was approved today by the state House. The federal act does not expend any taxpayer money – rather, it authorizes projects that improve and protect the Great Lakes as well as bodies of water across the country. Funding would have to be allocated separately. The U.S. House voted Tuesday to override the president's veto.
"Our three biggest industries – agriculture, manufacturing and tourism – all depend on having healthy Great Lakes water and a clean environment," Valentine said. "In order to move Michigan forward, we must do everything we can to protect the state's Great Lakes. We live in a beautiful state with incredible natural resources, but if we fail to ensure the jobs and economic development opportunities they provide us today, Michigan's future generations will be out of work and our economy will be drained."