Congressman Chris Collins, R-NY-27, and 17 colleagues sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army (Civil Works) R.D. James requesting sufficient funding for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study (GLCRS) in the fiscal year 2019 budget. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed this study to coordinate a strategy across the Great Lakes states to efficiently and effectively manage and protect the Great Lakes coastline.
The Great Lakes coastline drives a yearly $14 billion tourism and recreation economy. High water levels, recent storms and severe weather occurrences have had devastating impacts on shorelines erosion and coastal communities. The GLCRS would allow communities to become better equipped with information on how they can protect their shorelines during storms.
"This study would be the first of its kind, making it immensely helpful to shoreline businesses and homeowners who can so quickly experience devastating financial losses during severe weather," Collins said. "After a year of unprecedented floods along Lake Ontario, the shoreline economy was hit hard and individuals are struggling to pay for damage to their property. As we work to replace the commissioners on the International Joint Commission that implemented the failed Plan 2014 responsible for getting us into this mess, we are doing everything we can to prevent future devastation."
Congressman Brian Higgins, D-NY-26, said, "The relationship between the lakes and regions along the water's edge are symbiotic, with the health and activity in the water having a direct impact on the economic and environmental health of waterfront regions. This study will be an important tool to allow for better planning for Great Lakes communities."
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, D-NY-25, said, "The Great Lakes are home to 20 percent of all surface fresh water on the planet. More than 26 million people rely on them for commerce, transportation, drinking water and recreation. Good stewardship of this precious resource in not a Democrat or Republican issue - we all have an interest in investing in a vibrant future for communities along the Great Lakes. That's why I'm joining with my colleagues to push the administration to include funding for this important study in its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year."
President Donald Trump's FY19 budget request is expected to be released in February. To read a copy of the letter, click
HERE.
