Sep 28, 2006- Kaptur Supports Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration

Congresswoman Kaptur voted in favor of the bipartisan Great Lakes Fish andWildlife Restoration Act (S. 2430), which was sponsored by U.S. Sen. MikeDeWine (R-OH) and U.S. Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI). The bill passed the House by avoice vote. It was amended in the House, however, and must now go back tothe Senate for approval.

"We will literally redouble our efforts to save and restore the fish andwildlife populations, especially in the LakeErie ecosystem," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "This bill is an important first step towards working together with everyonewho cares about a healthy lake and healthy ecosystem."

In 2003, Congresswoman Kaptur secured passage of the Ottawa NationalWildlife Complex Expansion Act (now Public Law 108-23). That law permitsthe Secretary of the Interior to acquire by donation, purchase or exchangeadditional land and water within the boundaries of the Ottawa NationalWildlife Refuge, which is located between Toledoand Sandusky.

The legislation approved last night by the House would double the federalcontribution to fish and wildlife restoration initiatives from the currentlevel of $8 million a year to a new level of $16 million.

Congresswoman Kaptur said the Great Lakes Restoration Act, which was firstpassed in 1990, has previously been used to restore wetlands (such as the BoggyBottoms in Sandusky County)and to boost fish populations, particularly walleye and perch, by restoringhabitat and studying movement.

"There is so much important work to be done," said Congresswoman Kaptur. "This legislation will give us an important management tool."

A key feature of the legislation, she said, is that it promotes cooperationamong non-profit organizations, state natural resources departments, collegesand universities, and federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService.