Here in Western New York, as we continue to make progress in developing the waterfronts of Erie and Chautauqua Counties, it is critical that we continue to push for a renewed federal investment in our Great Lakes. 

 

The Great Lakes are plagued by contaminants from years of industrial and agricultural pollution that have settled into the sediments the Lakes and its tributaries.  That is why Brian is a member of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force.  Brian has been a lead advocate in Congress for cleaning and restoring the Great Lakes, preventing future contamination from sewer overflows and other pollutants, and protecting all of Western New York’s lakes from invasive species. 

 

In the 110th Congress, Brian introduced H.R. 3331, a bill to reduce harmful algae blooms by banning phosphorus in automatic dish detergent.  Phosphorus promotes excessive growth of weeds and algae, which rob the water of oxygen that fish need to survive, prevent recreational use of waters, and can have deleterious effects on human health.  It enters water bodies from many sources and creates up to 500 times its weight in algae.  Both Lake Erie and Chautauqua Lake have struggles with algae blooms fed by phosphorous pollutants.

 

Brian has also joined his colleagues on the Great Lakes Task Force in seeking funding for the Great Lakes Legacy Act, which provides funds for the remediation of the Lakes and contaminated tributaries like the Buffalo River.  Also, earlier this year the House passed the Coast Guard Authorization bill, which contained provisions Brian sought to strengthen regulations on the release into the Great Lakes of ballast water by oceangoing vessels, often a source of invasive species into the Lakes.

 

Below you will find the latest on Brian’s efforts on behalf of the Great Lakes.