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Senator Grafstein attended hearings of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the topic of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration’s Strategy to Restore and Protect the Great Lakes. A transcript of the hearings is available at: http://epw.senate.gov/hearing_statements.cfm?id=252789. He heard the testimony of Governor Bob Taft of Ohio, as well as of U.S. Senators Voinovich (Ohio), DeWine (Ohio), Levin (Michigan), Stabenow (Michigan), Jeffords (Vermont), Clinton (New York), Obama (Illinois), Inhofe (Oklahoma), Thune (South Dakota) and Carper (Delaware), a number of whom attend the Annual Meeting of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.
In addition to discussions with a number of the aforementioned senators on Great Lakes issues, Senator Grafstein also met with U.S. Representatives Slaughter (New York), Oberstar (Minnesota) and Ehlers (Michigan) as well as with Representative Huntley of the State of Minnesota House of Representatives. At these discussions, Senator Grafstein suggested that a similar Great Lakes event should be held in Ottawa and that a Great Lakes Virtual Institute should be created.
Moreover, Senator Grafstein also met with the following Great Lakes stakeholders: · Mr. David Naftzger, Executive Director, Council of Great Lakes Governors · Mr. David Ullrich, Director, Great Lakes Cities Initiative · Mr. John Nevin, Strategic Policy Advisor, International Joint Commission · Mr. George Kuper, President, Council of Great Lakes Industries · Mr. Richard Munson, Executive Director, Northeast Midwest Institute · Dr. Jon MacDonagh-Dumler, Program Manager of Regional Coordination, Great Lakes Commission · Mr. Jim Lynch, Consul, Chicago Consulate, Government of Canada. Finally, Senator Grafstein also discussed, with his Congressional counterparts, the economic impact of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative along both sides of the border and ideas for reviving a ferry service between Rochester and Toronto. Respectfully submitted, Hon.
Jerahmiel Grafstein, Senator |
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