Bill Text: MI SR0070 | 2019-2020 | 100th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to recognize September 7, 2019, as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2019-08-29 - Adopted [SR0070 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2019-SR0070-Enrolled.html
AS ADOPTED BY
SENATE, AUGUST 29, 2019
senate resolution no.70
Senator VanderWall, Ananich, Barrett, Bizon, Bullock, Chang, Hertel, Hollier, Johnson, Lauwers, Lucido, Runestad, Santana, Wojno and Zorn offered the following resolution:
A resolution to recognize September 7, 2019, as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day.
Whereas, The Great Lakes system including Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and the St. Lawrence River is a globally significant resource and ecosystem, holding 21 percent of the world’s surface freshwater; and
Whereas, The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River provides drinking water to more than 48 million Americans and Canadians and supplies 56 billion gallons of water per day for municipal, agricultural, and industrial use; and
Whereas, On September 7, 2012, by signing a revised Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the United States and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to binational cooperation “to restore, protect, and enhance the water quality of the Great Lakes to promote the ecological health of the Great Lakes basin.”; and
Whereas, An abundant supply of clean and affordable water is essential to support a healthy population, a thriving economy, and a well-functioning ecosystem; and
Whereas, As the major source of water for communities located within the Great Lakes basin, the Great Lakes system is a vital resource in which all the region’s residents share a common interest; and
Whereas, The Great Lakes are an economic powerhouse for the region, supporting industries such as shipping, agriculture, technology, manufacturing, recreation, and tourism; and
Whereas, The waters and shoreline of the Great Lakes provide exceptional habitat for thousands of species of native mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, and plants; and
Whereas, The Great Lakes basin is home to numerous beaches, parks, forests, harbors, marinas, piers, lighthouses, boardwalks, and islands that provide recreational opportunities for swimming, hiking, surfing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, hunting, photography, wildlife watching, and more; and
Whereas, The Great Lakes are Michigan’s most valuable natural resource and are fundamental to the state’s identity and quality of life. The Great Lakes also have extraordinary economic value for Michigan, providing jobs for more than 800,000 Michigan residents; a world‐renown commercial and sport fishery with an annual value of more than $4 billion; the foundation for a $12.8 billion travel industry; water resources for manufacturing industries, which produce 60 percent of our nation’s steel and 60 percent of our automobiles; a maritime transportation network; and harbors and marinas that support a $2 billion annual recreational boating industry; and
Whereas, The region’s environment, economy, and people rely on the clean, healthy waters of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body recognize September 7, 2019, as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day; and be it further
Resolved, That we encourage all citizens to learn about the importance of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River to the economy and the environment of Michigan.
