IV 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 121

Endorsing increased efforts to preserve and protect Lake St. Clair as a 

vital part of the Great Lakes system. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 4, 2003

Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Mrs. MILLER of Michigan) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and 

in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION

Endorsing increased efforts to preserve and protect Lake 

St. Clair as a vital part of the Great Lakes system.

Whereas the Great Lakes are a priceless and irreplaceable 

natural resource, constituting the largest system of fresh 

surface water on Earth, holding 18 percent of the world’s 

fresh surface water and over 90 percent of the fresh surface water in the United States; 

Whereas Lake St. Clair is a vitally important economic resource to Michigan and to the United States, providing 

drinking water to 4.5 million people and producing onethird of all fish caught in the Great Lakes each year; 
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Whereas the Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956, the Clean 

Water Act of 1978, the Great Lakes Shoreline Mapping 

Act of 1987, the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990, and the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, among other laws, include Lake St. Clair in the definition of the Great Lakes 

for the purpose of programs and grants; 

Whereas Lake St. Clair will benefit from the Great Lakes 

Legacy Act of 2002, which provides funds to monitor and 

clean up contaminated sediments in the Great Lakes 

Areas of Concern, including the St. Clair River and Clinton River watersheds, which are adjacent to Lake St. 

Clair; 

Whereas Lake St. Clair received special attention in the 

Water Resources Development Act of 1999, which directed the Secretary of the Army to prepare a comprehensive management plan for Lake St. Clair, a first 

draft of which is scheduled for release in 2003; 

Whereas despite environmental gains made in recent years, 

Lake St. Clair continues to experience beach closings due 

to faulty sewage and septic systems, combined sewer 

overflows, toxic contamination, and invasive species; 

Whereas Lake St. Clair is the ‘‘Heart of the Great Lakes’’ 

because of its location and size, and its contribution to 

drinking water, recreation, and commerce; and 

Whereas increased attention and resources are needed to continue the environmental progress that has been made 

with respect to Lake St. Clair: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) affirms the economic, environmental, and 

3 cultural importance of Lake St. Clair and the entire 
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1 Great Lakes system to the people of the United 

2 States; 

3 (2) commends the efforts that are being made 

4 to safeguard Lake St. Clair from water pollution, 

5 toxic chemicals, and nonindigenous species; and 

6 (3) calls on all Americans and all levels of gov7 ernment in the United States to take additional ac8 tions and accelerate existing efforts to preserve and 

9 protect Lake St. Clair as a vital natural resource.

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