Funds will go towards protecting the Great Lakes over the next decade.
United States Congressman Bill Huizenga is praising Canada for its recent financial commitment to protecting the Great Lakes, as the country has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars over the next ten years.
Huizenga, who serves as the Republican Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force and the US-Canada Inter-parliamentary Group, had been critical of Canada for only having committed 33 million towards protecting the Great Lakes so far. During President Joe Biden’s visit to Canada last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the country would now spend approximately $300 million over the next decade towards the effort.
At a virtual town hall Monday, Rep. Huizenga, a Zeeland-based Republican that represents West Michigan’s 4th Congressional District in Washington said he was overjoyed that Canada had gotten on board with protecting the Great Lakes.
“This increased funding commitment to help preserve and strengthen the Great Lakes is a welcomed announcement from our neighbors in Canada,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “I was proud to lead this bipartisan request for increased funding with Congressman Higgins and I am glad our Canadian friends answered our call. Protecting the Great Lakes has strong bipartisan support in Congress and I am glad to see increased bilateral support between the United States and Canada to preserve these international waters as well.”
On March 8th, Congressman Huizenga led a letter to President Biden with Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY) encouraging the President to press the Canadian Government to increase their commitment to protecting the Great Lakes.
Huizenga said he thanked the President for doing so.