WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) offered an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization bill that would have given the eight Great Lakes Governors and two Canadian Premiers “management authority” over the Great Lakes. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) went toe-to-toe with Rogers on the floor of the House of Representatives regarding the legal inconsistencies and the potentially irreversible damages the amendment would have caused. In the end, the House voted overwhelmingly with Stupak by rejecting the Rogers amendment on a vote of 156-273.

“Again today, Congressman Rogers failed 33 million people who rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water,” said Stupak. “The amendment he offered not only missed the boat on protecting our water but it would have sacrificed our sovereignty as a country and encroached upon the United States Constitution. Furthermore, the main provision of his legislation stating that power ‘remain vested’ with the Governors and Premiers was misleading because Congress has never authorized such a broad power.”

Stupak first expressed serious concerns about the issue when Rogers planned to present similar legislation to the International Relations Committee late last month. However, at the last minute the bill was pulled from the agenda by the Republican leadership. Stupak stated that he supported the intent of the measure but it would undermine efforts to protect the Great Lakes from oil and gas drilling, wastewater blending and invasive species.  Stupak had offered and drafted a compromise amendment, but Rogers would not concede on any provision.

“I strongly support Mr. Rogers’ stated intent.  We do want input from the Great Lakes Governors in developing a common standard as to water withdrawal for the Great Lakes. But his amendment does nothing to further the goal of protecting the Great Lakes,” said Stupak. “I have been a leader on Great Lakes issues for over 12 years and I’ve seen the political stunts before – say one thing and do another. Mike Rogers failed in Committee and he again failed on the House floor because this was a sloppy amendment based on the need for a political win. I said it before and I’ll make the same offer today. If he really wants to learn how to protect the Great Lakes, I am happy to work with him to develop a piece of legislation where the Great Lakes wins.”

Outlining several additional inconsistencies with the amendment, Stupak said that the Rogers amendment would put Congress on record for the first time ever as granting full management authority over the Great Lakes to eight state governors and two provincial governments of Canada. Granting additional power to Canadian Premiers could give Canada broad management authority over all the Great Lakes, including Lake Michigan, which lies completely inside the U.S. The net effect of the Rogers amendment would have 10 different standards for water diversion, pollution, oil and gas drilling, aquatic nuisances, etc. In addition, Stupak cited international clauses to show that the amendment is inconsistent with constitutional interpretation.

In his address on the floor to the Speaker of the House, Stupak said, “a simple reading of the Rogers amendment could only lead to two conclusions: either the amendment fails to understand current law or it is purposely attempting to undermine existing Great Lakes protections. In either case, this amendment should be defeated.”                                       

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