Congress currently has before it many initiatives that could protect and restore our water resources. Your help is needed to make these initiatives become reality. Contact your members of Congress and urge them to support the following bills:

Great Lakes Implementation Act of 2007
This bill puts into practice priority recommendations of a $20 billion Great Lakes cleanup plan released as part of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration. It would help stop sewage contamination, prevent invasive species introductions, clean up toxics and restore wetlands.

Clean Water Authority Restoration Act
The Clean Water Authority Restoration Act would reaffirm and restore the broad scope of protection intended by Congress to ensure our waters are restored and maintained to make them safe for drinking, fishing, swimming and a host of other vital uses.

National Aquatic Invasive Species Act (NAISA)
NAISA provides a comprehensive approach to preventing the introduction of more aquatic invasive species to all waters of the United States.

Great Lakes Asian Carp Barrier Act of 2007 and Barrier Project Consolidation and Construction Act of 2007
This legislation authorizes the completion of an electric barrier to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes.

Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act
This bill would list three species of Asian carp—the bighead, black and silver carp—as injurious wildlife under the Lacey Act. By doing so, Congress would prevent the intentional introduction of these species into the Great Lakes by prohibiting the interstate transportation or importation of live Asian carp without a permit.

Water Resources Development Act
This legislation authorizes a variety of national water-related projects, including flood, storm and shoreline protection; environmental restoration; and improvements to critical infrastructure of the nation’s waterways and ports.

Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund
This bill will increase the funding for grants to $14 billion over four years for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. This is an important tool to help municipalities upgrade sewage infrastructure and prevent sewage overflows from occurring.

—Jennifer McKay, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council