house resolution no.297

Reps. Pohutsky, Sowerby, Hood, LaGrand, Rabhi, Koleszar, Witwer, Manoogian, Brixie, Stone, Bolden, Clemente, Sneller, Hammoud, Hope, Kennedy, Chirkun, Brenda Carter, Hoadley, Lasinski and Hertel offered the following resolution:

A resolution to declare August 2020 as Water Quality Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Water Quality Month calls attention to the fact that water is essential to our daily lives and has many uses including drinking, agriculture, recreation, and transportation which are paramount to the health and wellbeing of Michiganders across our great state; and

Whereas, The term "water quality" refers to the standards surrounding the use, protection, anti-degradation requirements, and monitoring policies for our waterways, aquifers, lakes, and streams. Legislators must call attention and continuously strive to implement policies which protect our water resources; and

Whereas, Michigan values our natural resources, especially our watersheds and lakes, which support our tourism, recreation, and agriculture industries. We are recognized as the Great Lakes State; and

Whereas, Water quality is monitored under the processes prescribed in the Clean Water Act and is done with local and community input through transparent processes which recognize the vital needs for access to clean water for all Michigan citizens; and

Whereas, The United States Environmental Protection Agency has designated August as National Water Quality Month, a designation which Michigan should echo and support; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare August 2020 Water Quality Month in the state of Michigan. We support the continued efforts of national, state, and local partners, and the efforts of Michigan citizens to ensure that water quality remains a focus of our natural resources policies; and be it further

Resolved, That we will continue to prioritize the health and safety of all Michiganders when developing water quality standards and policies in order to proactively prevent harm to our citizens, our natural resources, and our tourism and agriculture industries.