Water Resources Development Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOYCE. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment. I would like to start today by thanking Chairman Shuster, subcommittee Chairman Gibbs, and the rest of the members of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the committee's thorough review of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; here and after, GLRI.

The GLRI ensures we work together as a country to protect and preserve one of our most important national treasures and economic assets, the Great Lakes.

According to recent estimates, if the Great Lakes region were a country its GDP would be the third largest in the world. The Great Lakes currently generate 1.5 million jobs and $60 billion in wages annually and provides the foundation for a $30 billion tourism economy.

Whether it is manufacturing, mining, engineering, agriculture, or fishing, the Great Lakes support a wide variety of jobs and industries, but the Lakes' importance doesn't stop there.

The Great Lakes does not just provide jobs; it provides a resource.

You see, the Great Lakes holds 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water.

They contain 95 percent of the surface freshwater in the United States and more than 20 percent of the world's surface freshwater. It provides drinking water to 46 million people.

The text of this amendment is the same as the text of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2016, which just passed this House unanimously on April 26, 2016.

I offer my amendment today in hopes that it will finally pass in the Senate, which overwhelmingly passed a similar provision in their WRDA bill. The difference between the House and Senate versions are small but they are important. This amendment includes important changes to current law that reflect feedback from the Government Accountability Office and key stakeholders.

My amendment enhances the non-Federal stakeholder outreach the EPA is required to conduct to ensure regular consultation with States and tribes and better communication with NGOs.

This amendment also includes a coordinator to address harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie which reduces duplication and increases transparency. It requires more robust, adaptive management by the EPA and the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force to update the GLRI action plan every 5 years.

None of these changes were included in the Senate bill. Adding them to the House WRDA bill will make sure these thoughtful provisions, which enhance transparency, accountability, and local planning, are maintained as we fight to get this bill passed.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. JOYCE. Mr. Chairman, when it comes to the Great Lakes, I know I can sound like a broken record. In fact, some have recently called me here the Great Lakes guy. I am proud of that, and I am proud to support this amendment, proud to stand up for one of our country's greatest natural resources and economic powerhouses. I hope you all join me in support to protect and preserve our national treasure, the Great Lakes.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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