WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Sen. Gary Peters and environmental groups are so far disappointed by President Barack Obama’s budget proposal, which does not include money for the New International Trade Crossing customs station and would cut federal efforts to restore and protect the Great Lakes, both said in separate statements released Monday.
Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) said that while he agrees with Mr. Obama’s proposal to end the sequestration cuts, calling them a “misguided policy that jeopardizes our continued economic recovery and poses serious threats to both our national security and domestic priorities,” he was “disappointed” the budget did not include funding for NITC, the new bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
Supporters of the bridge are anxious for the federal government to approve money for the customs plaza.
“This is a project that will create thousands of Michigan jobs, enhance trade with Canada, our closest trading partner, and transform Michigan into a transportation and logistics hub for trade, manufacturing and innovation,” he said. “As a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, I will continue working with Congress, the Obama administration, the Snyder Administration and the Canadian government to pursue all options to ensure funding for construction and staffing of the customs plaza.”
Peters, an outspoken proponent of the project, previously introduced legislation to secure funding for a federal customs plaza for the NITC, which remains one of the last hurdles surrounding the project. The Canadian government has agreed to fund construction and land acquisition of the $2.1 billion project, per an agreement with the state of Michigan, to be repaid by tolls.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) also issued a statement on the president’s proposed budget, applauding that it avoids “harmful sequestration” but little more beyond that.
“If America is to remain a premier nation, we must invest in cutting-edge research, support quality education and training, rebuild our crumbling infrastructure, and strengthen our manufacturing sector,” Ms. Dingell said. “The president’s budget outlines critical investments in our future, and as a member of the Budget Committee, I will work hard with my colleagues to advance these priorities.”
GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE: Also slighted by the proposal so far is Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, which issued a statement that it would once again call upon Republicans and Democrats in Congress to restore funding to a federal program that supports cleaning up toxic pollution, restores fish and wildlife habitat, combats invasive species and reduces runoff from farms and cities.
Last year the Obama Administration recommended cutting the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative from $300 million to $275 million though that ultimately did not come to fruition. This year, the federal budget recommends slashing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative from $300 million to $250 million.
“This budget, for the Great Lakes, is a non-starter,” said Todd Ambs, campaign director for the coalition. “We look forward to – once again – working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to restore funding to Great Lakes protection efforts that are producing results for the environment and economy in communities across the region.”
The coalition noted that over the last six years, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has invested more than $1.9 billion in the Great Lakes states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, and has been widely credited with accelerating the restoration of one of the world’s most important water bodies.
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