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State Representative Rick Hansen
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-6828
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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REP. RICK HANSEN TO ATTEND MIDWESTERN LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
ST. PAUL – State Representative Rick Hansen of South St. Paul is representing Minnesota at a meeting of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus – a part of the annual Midwestern Legislative Conference in Traverse City, Michigan – this week. As a member of the Caucus, Rep. Hansen is meeting with state lawmakers from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Wisconsin to share ideas for possible legislation regarding the preservation and utilization of the world's largest contiguous bodies of freshwater.
"It is a great honor to be involved in this important work," said Hansen. "I take my responsibility as a member of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus very seriously. At a time when freshwater resources, like Lake Superior and the tens of thousands of lakes throughout our state, are increasingly facing the real risks associated with invasive species, pollution, and erosion, we need strong, comprehensive, and forward-thinking policies that will protect these precious resources well into the future."
According to the Council of State Governments, the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus has three distinct goals:
· Facilitating the regional exchange of ideas and information on key Great Lakes issues;
· Strengthening the role of state and provincial legislators in the policymaking process;
· Promoting the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes.
"Our meeting this week will primarily focus on the condition and importance of groundwater supply in the Great Lakes basin, the effectiveness of recently-implemented policies aimed at regulating invasive species, and the changing water levels in the Great Lakes," said Hansen. "By working together with other states, we can more effectively achieve long-term goals for the preservation of not only Lake Superior, but all our Great Lakes."
Of particular concern to these state legislators is the consistent loss of water in the Great Lakes – reportedly losing billions of gallons of water per day. If this current trend persists, Lake Superior will see record low water levels this fall.
"Any Minnesotan familiar with Lake Superior can tell just by looking at the shoreline that the lake is changing significantly," said Hansen. "Lake Huron and Michigan are losing around 2.5 billion gallons of water per day as well. This is definitely an issue of concern and one that the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus will be addressing this week in Michigan."
Hansen is hopeful that after brainstorming with fellow legislators from across the Midwest, he and his colleagues will come away with a strong policy platform for upcoming legislative sessions. He has received a scholarship to attend the conference based on his role in these issues to reduce the cost of his transportation and fees.
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