WASHINGTON, D.C. – During Great Lakes Week, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met with environmental leaders from Chardon and around Ohio to discuss the importance of preserving the Great Lakes. The individuals attended Brown’s weekly coffee with constituents during their visit to Washington, D.C. for Great Lakes Week. Brown met with Kathryn Hanratty of Enviroscapes Designs, which is based in Chardon.

“Lake Erie means many things to Ohioans – a source of water, recreation, a way to ship Ohio-made products, and a key component of our state economy. That’s why cleaning up and preserving the Great Lakes must be a priority,” said Brown. “I enjoyed hearing from constituents who share the same commitment to protecting our Great Lakes and the jobs they support.”

This month, Brown introduced the Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA), bipartisan legislation aimed at preserving the Great lakes and bolstering economic growth in the Great Lakes region. GLEEPA would protect the Great Lakes from a variety of ecological threats and invasive species like harmful algal blooms and Asian carp. It would accomplish this by formally authorizing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). In addition, Brown became an original cosponsor of the Defending Our Great Lakes Act, which would help slow the spread of invasive species like Asian carp.

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