Rick Nolan holds discussions with environmental leaders

Members from the Sea Grant and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

DULUTH, Minn. – Minnesota’s 8th District Congressperson Rick Nolan was in Duluth on Friday to meet with members of the Sea Grant and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The Trump Administration had originally planned on cutting or reducing the amount of funding that these organizations receive. Through a bi–partisan effort, those funds were restored in the 2017 budget. Nolan met with representatives from Sea Grant and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, to discuss the potential impacts if they were to lose funding.

“This is right at the time when the designs are being prepared, the wind is in our sails, and this is the wrong time to lose funding,” said Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Nelson French said.  “The impact would be devastating if that budget passed.”

“These funds are so critical,” Nolan said. “They are so essential for the quality of our life, the quality of our water, the quality of our communities.”

Nolan says the next step is to ensure the bi–partisan commission keeps the funding again in the 2018 budget.