Bill Text: MI SR0144 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution designating April 19-26, 2010, as Michigan Conservation Week.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2010-04-20 - Adopted [SR0144 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-SR0144-Enrolled.html
SR-144, As Adopted by Senate, April 20, 2010
Senator Birkholz offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 144.
A resolution designating April 19-26, 2010, as Michigan Conservation Week.
Whereas, The Michigan Senate has seen great value in the proper conservation of our natural resources with three previous annual celebrations of Conservation Week, taking the charge specifically provided to the Legislature in Article IV, Section 52 of the Michigan Constitution:
"The conservation and development of the natural resources of the state are hereby declared to be of paramount public concern in the interest of the health, safety and general welfare of the people. The legislature shall provide for the protection of the air, water and other natural resources of the state from pollution, impairment and destruction."
; and
Whereas, We have celebrated land conservation, state parks, recycling, and our Great Lakes and other key environmental issues during the third week of April to center around the nation's celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2010; and
Whereas, The Senate has seen fit to again celebrate Conservation Week with another weeklong series of events designed to draw attention to the need to conserve our natural resources; and
Whereas, This year, the Senate has chosen to focus its efforts on the recent enactment of the Michigan recreation passport and the need to continue to educate the public in the mission to protect our waters and lands from invasive species; and
Whereas, Funding for our parks system is inadequate to protect our parks and ensure they are open for public access, and the threat of invasive species is the No. 1 threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Michigan Senate has been active in passing legislation both to protect our parks and to guard against invasive species. We have also approved the Great Lakes Basin’s most comprehensive ballast water regulation law and remain the regional leader in instituting aggressive penalties to help provide deterrents to further encroachments of land and water invasives; and
Whereas, The Michigan Senate has taken specific action on Asian carp through resolutions requesting funding for electric barriers. One of its members joined in a lawsuit filed by the Michigan Attorney General to close the Chicago shipping canals, and another introduced legislation prohibiting the use of Asian carp as bait; and
Whereas, There is an increasing need for coordinated regional action to bring together all Great Lakes states to stop the spread of invasive species, including new threats from land and water invasives that will impact Michigan’s water quality, and in that quest, the Michigan Senate has helped support the founding of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That for these and other significant reasons, the Michigan Senate declares April 19-26, 2010, as the fourth annual Conservation Week. During this week, we will take measures to educate the public and create awareness for threats posed by invasives and bring awareness to the new recreation opportunities that await Michigan citizens with the implementation of the Michigan recreation passport legislation; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
