Lake Erie is arguably Ohio's most precious natural resource, providing outlets for boating and fishing, recreation, and unique habitat for endangered species such as the bald eagle. Despite the lake's importance it suffers from pollution, habitat destruction, and a new dead zone. The U.S. Senate is now considering putting $6 billion toward the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes.

You can make this restoration a reality by e-mailing Sen. DeWine and Sen. Voinovich to thank them for their support of the measure and urge them to ask President Bush to include funding for the Great Lakes in his budget proposal. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link or paste it into your web browser: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=590&id4=OHFreep

BACKGROUND

More than 8 billion pounds of toxic pollution have been dumped into Lake Erie, hundreds of its beaches are closed each year due to sewage overflows, and 80 percent of its coastal wetlands have been destroyed.

Ohio's local communities have plenty of ideas on how to solve these problems, if only they had the funds to put their ideas to work.

That's why, in the wake of Gov. Taft's call for swift congressional action to address the problems facing Lake Erie, Ohio PIRG has launched our Restore Lake Erie Initiative. The centerpiece of our effort is the Great Lakes Environmental Restoration Act — legislation, introduced by Sen. DeWine and sponsored by Sen. Voinovich, that would dedicate $6 billion over 10 years to restoring and protecting all of the Great Lakes.

With strong bipartisan support, including the backing of Ohio's top Republican officeholders, we have a terrific opportunity to convince President Bush to make the first down payment on this plan by putting $600 million into his next federal budget.

You can make this restoration a reality by e-mailing Sen. DeWine and Sen. Voinovich to thank them for their support of the measure and urge them to ask President Bush to include funding for the Great Lakes in his budget proposal. Then, ask your friends and family to help by forwarding this e-mail to them.

To take action, click on this link: pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=590&id4=OHFreep