Bill Text: MI SCR0040 | 2017-2018 | 99th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: A concurrent resolution to urge the state of Michigan and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus to engage in a meaningful scientific exchange with the African Great Lakes Conference.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2018-12-21 - Referred To Committee On Natural Resources [SCR0040 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2017-SCR0040-Engrossed.html
SCR40, As Adopted by Senate, December 21, 2018
Senators Conyers, Young, Hertel, Gregory, Bieda and Hopgood offered the following concurrent resolution:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 40.
A concurrent resolution to urge the state of Michigan and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus to engage in a meaningful scientific exchange with the African Great Lakes Conference.
Whereas, The North American Great Lakes are a freshwater system of regional, national, and international importance. Our five Great Lakes hold approximately 20 percent of the world's surface freshwater, providing drinking water for millions of people in the United States and Canada. At the same time, the Great Lakes are at the heart of a $6 trillion regional economy. Manufacturing, tourism, recreation, shipping, agriculture, and fishing are only some of the diverse industries that depend on the lakes; and
Whereas, The African Great Lakes along the east African rift form a freshwater system of similar size and importance. Twenty-five percent of the world's surface freshwater is held in this system, and three of the largest freshwater lakes in the world outside of our own region—Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Malawi/Nyssa/Niassa—are found in this region; and
Whereas, As home to two of the largest freshwater systems in the world, the North American Great Lakes and the African Great Lakes regions face common concerns and risks related to climate change, sustaining fisheries, and balancing the multiple uses and demands placed on these large, unique systems; and
Whereas, Establishing a relationship between the decision-makers that work to protect these two Great Lakes systems could have beneficial impacts for both regions and help ensure that these international treasures will be able to support the people and economies of these regions for decades to come; now, therefore, be it,
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we urge the state of Michigan and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus to engage in a meaningful scientific exchange with the African Great Lakes Conference via the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes and the members of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus Executive Committee.
