Great Lakes cleanup will pay big dividends | News, Sports, Jobs

DEAR EDITOR:

President Joe Biden announced “the biggest restoration of the Great Lakes ever undertaken” in his Feb. 18 visit to Ohio.

The bipartisan infrastructure bill has funded $1 billion to clean up 22 sites that have been longstanding areas of environmental concern. About 40 million of us count on the Great Lakes for drinking water, and the Great Lakes support 1.3 million jobs.

The president cited projections of $3 to $4 in economic benefit for every $1 spent on the restoration projects. Just like investment in clean energy. Jobs and cleaning up the Great Lakes go hand in hand. Many of us who live close to Lake Erie enjoy boating, fishing, wildlife and the entertainment and family times the lakeshore offers. The Great Lakes are home to thousands of species of wildlife.

Protecting these life-giving waters for our kids and generations to come requires this investment to clean up toxic conditions caused by decades of industrial use. Funds will be used to restore wildlife habitats and wetlands, dredge toxic waste and make water safe for drinking, recreation and wildlife.

I am glad to see these needed investments in our infrastructure coming to fruition. Thanks to those in the current administration and Congress who are focusing on these investments and others needed to make our communities healthier and safer and to increase our competitiveness in world markets. Thanks to Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman and to U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan who represent our Valley and voted for the bipartisan infrastructure bill. And to those representing parts of our Valley who voted against this, U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson and David Joyce, you have some explaining to do.

KAREN ZEHR

Warren