In Grand Haven, Senator Stabenow Joins “All Hands on Deck” Event on Lake Michigan to Highlight Importance of Protecting Our Great Lakes

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force, today joined community members at the Grand Haven State Park for the “All Hands on Deck” Great Lakes event. The event was one of 64 local events happening in communities and at public beaches in six different states to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our Great Lakes and funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

“All Hands on Deck” was started by Kimberly Simon of Charlevoix in March, 2017 to raise awareness and bring people together in a nonpartisan way to advocate for our Great Lakes. Kimberly launched the idea after the Trump Administration proposed eliminating funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. For a complete list of the more than 30 events happening in Michigan, visit https://allhandsondeckgreatlakes.org/communities-participating/ and for more information, visit https://allhandsondeckgreatlakes.org/.

“Our Great Lakes are crucial to the health of both Michigan’s economy and our people and we have a special responsibility to protect them,” said Senator Stabenow. “I’d like to thank All Hands on Deck for raising awareness and bringing people together to stand up for the critical resources we need to protect our precious Great Lakes.”

“Interest just keeps growing day by day—the momentum is amazing!” said Kimberly Simon. “The idea resonates with people across a very broad region because they all realize the Great Lakes are precious resources that are essential for our environment, our economies, and our way of life.”

Senator Stabenow championed the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in 2010. GLRI is critical to supporting more than 1.5 million Great Lakes jobs, fighting invasive species like Asian carp, and protecting our Michigan way of life. In May, Stabenow led the bipartisan effort to successfully pass full funding for the Great Lakes for the remainder of fiscal year 2017. She has been asking Michigan families to join her in saving Great Lakes funding for next year by sharing stories and memories at https://www.stabenow.senate.gov/greatlakes.

Senator Stabenow is also leading the effort to stop Asian carp from invading our Great Lakes. Recently, an eight-pound adult silver carp was captured only nine miles from Lake Michigan by a commercial fishing vessel whose activities are funded by GLRI. Stabenow’s Stop Asian Carp Now Act requires the Army Corps to release the Brandon Road study within seven days of the bill’s enactment. The Brandon Road study would detail a structural solution to stopping Asian carp at a critical chokepoint in the Illinois River.  The study has already been delayed by the Trump Administration from its expected release in February of this year.