U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, recently joined 17 colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney and Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army (Civil Works) R.D. James requesting sufficient funding for the Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study (GLCRS) in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed this study to coordinate a strategy across the Great Lakes states to efficiently and effectively manage and protect the Great Lakes coastlines.
“ The Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency Study would be another important tool in our toolbox as we work to protect our Great Lakes and coastal communities such as New Buffalo and St. Joseph ,” said Upton . “ Hopefully this strong showing of bipartisan support will push the administration in a positive direction.”
“ Whether it’s coastal erosion, high water levels, storms, or other occurrences, it’s critical that we have a full understanding of how these issues impact our Great Lakes – for both economic and environmental reasons. We will continue to work on a bipartisan basis to implement common-sense policies that protect and preserve our Great Lakes ,” added Upton.
Upton has previously led efforts to address severe erosion in New Buffalo and St. Joseph. The President’s FY19 budget request is expected to be released sometime in February.