WASHINGTON DC – The Great Lakes Compact is one step away from final ratification after the U.S. House voted Tuesday to approve the agreement between the eight Great Lakes states to limit water withdrawals.

The measure did not move on without objection. U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) had asked the chamber to hold off its vote on the agreement because of the provisions that allow movement of containers less than 5.7 gallons.

Environmental groups unanimously praised the House action Tuesday, but many did call for starting negotiations that would close the small container loophole for water exports.

“With passage in both the House and Senate, we look forward to President Bush signing into law these historic protections for the Great Lakes,” said Jeff Skelding, national campaign director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We urge the U.S. Congress and our next president to act with the same sense of urgency to restore this great American resource by confronting the serious threats of sewage contamination, invasive species and toxic pollution, because every day we wait, the problems get worse and more costly.”

“Today, we applaud Congress for their commitment in protecting the Great Lakes for the benefit of future generations. Their leadership has given us a rare opportunity to ensure that our Great Lakes, one of the natural wonders of the world, will not be sold to the highest bidder,” said Emily Green, director of the Sierra Club’s Great Lakes Program.

“This is an historic day for the protection of a Great Lakes system that is a global treasure,” said James Clift, policy director for the Michigan Environmental Council. “We are pleased that Congressional leaders from both the Great Lakes region and elsewhere recognize the importance of the Great Lakes. It says the Lakes are a national gem – like the Grand Canyon or the Florida Everglades – worthy of our defense and stewardship.”

U.S. Rep. John Dingell (D-Dearborn) agreed there were still concerns over the compact, but argued it had to be approved quickly to begin protecting the lakes. And he said the federal government had further role in protecting and restoring the lakes.

“One of the ways we protect the Great Lakes is by providing its governing agencies with the money they need to do their job,” Dingell said in a statement.

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