On Earth Day I joined with Wilmette Mayor Chris Canning and “Below the Surface” Founder Kristian Gustavson at Gillson Beach to highlight our commitment to protecting the health of the Great Lakes.
According to a recent Alliance for the Great Lakes report, 413 million gallons of combined storm water and sewage were sent through the locks into Lake Michigan in 2009. More than 11 billion gallons were released into the Lake in 2008. Thirteen percent of Great Lakes beach samples violated public health standards for safe swimming in 2008 due to high E. coli levels – more than twice the national average.
When elected to Congress I will be a leader working to keep the Great Lakes – our crown jewel of the Midwest – clean and safe. More than 30 million people use the Great Lakes for recreational purposes and drinking water each year. I will work tirelessly to ensure that we can continue to enjoy the benefits of this area’s most treasured natural resource.
When in Congress I will work to increase fines for dumping sewage into the lake. The money collected will be earmarked to a dedicated fund to help clean and monitor the health of the Great Lakes.
