Press Release - Thursday, August 10, 2006
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Lt. Gov. Quinn, Senator Clayborne, Senator Haine, Representative Beiser, and Representative Wyvetter Younge launch a new initiative to protect the Mississippi River!
East St. Louis - Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn and local elected officials stood along the banks of the Mississippi River to launch the Mississippi River Coordinating Council (MRCC). Quinn also invited residents and river enthusiasts to contribute ideas that will help improve and protect the mighty Mississippi River.
"The Mississippi River is not only a tremendous economic and recreational asset, but it is crucial to our state and country's identity," Quinn said. "The Mississippi River Coordinating Council will work with the river's stakeholders to develop solutions to protect the health and viability of this national treasure."
As chairman of the Illinois River Coordinating Council (IRCC), Quinn witnessed firsthand the tremendous difference that a coordinated effort between state and federal agencies, not-for-profit organizations and, most importantly, citizens can make to improve and restore a river and its tributaries.
That's why Quinn proposed the creation of the MRCC, signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich on July 3 and modeled after the successful IRCC.
"I salute Governor Blagojevich for creating the Mississippi River Coordinating Council," Quinn said. "I also applaud the chief sponsors of this bill, Sen. James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis) and Rep. Daniel Beiser (D-East Alton), as well as local sponsor Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton), and thank all area legislators for their support."
As the first chairman of the MRCC, Quinn is asking residents and citizens to help protect the great Mississippi River by contributing comments and ideas to the Lt. Governor's office. Citizens may actively interact by visiting www.CleanWater.il.gov.
"This is another opportunity for the citizens of Illinois and those residents living along the banks of the Mississippi River to help protect one of the world's greatest river systems," Quinn said. "The Mississippi River runs for 583 miles along the Illinois border - it connects Illinois to diverse communities across our country. The mighty Mississippi defines the geography, the environment and the economy of many of our towns and cities."
An estimated 50 cities nationwide rely on the Mississippi River for a daily water supply. The agriculture industry depends on the river to transport more than 40 percent of the nation's grain exports, and nature-based tourism generated $200 million for the upper Mississippi River states in 1999, the last year the industry was surveyed.
The Mississippi River also can be a powerful source of destruction. Serving as Illinois State Treasurer during the Great Flood of 1993, Quinn was part of the relief effort for one of the most significant and damaging natural disasters ever to hit the United States. Five months of heavy flooding affected nine states, uprooting thousands from their homes and causing $15 billion in damage nationwide.
The MRCC will help and encourage local communities to develop natural flood management plans in addition to overseeing resource conservation efforts. The MRCC will also work to increase nature-based tourism, protect wildlife and habitat along the Upper Mississippi River and improve the health of the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
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