Water Resources and Environment

The Great Lakes

Pete was born and raised on the south shore of Lake Michigan, and is still in awe of the vastness and magnificence of the Great Lakes. Stretching for over 750 miles from east to west, the Lakes account for a jaw-dropping 90 percent of the United States’ and 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water—an amount made even more astounding given the fact that three out of four people on this planet wake up each day with the mission to find clean water. Pete believes that it is essential that federal, state, local, and tribal leaders continue to work together to commit the resources and develop a highly effective statutory framework to ensure the vitality of the lakes and their abundance of fresh water. That is why Pete advocates for valuable federal programs such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, and the Brownfield’s Cleanup program. Pete is also an active member of the Great Lakes Taskforce.

Marquette Plan

The Marquette Plan is Pete’s long-term initiative to see Northwest Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline become the amenity that it should be for the people of Northwest Indiana. It is a regional effort—involving the cities of Whiting, Hammond, East Chicago, Gary, and Portage—to utilize public-private agreements to invest in lakefront projects designed to lay the economic foundation upon which future generations can build and thrive.

The Marquette Plan is guided by three principles. First, 75 percent of the lakeshore should be available for free, open, public use. Second, land directly on the lakefront should have a minimum setback of 200 feet from the lake. Third, there should be a continuous biking and walking trail covering the scope of the plan, for all Northwest Indiana residents to enjoy.

Want to see what projects are in your area? Click here for an interactive map that will show you all the projects across Northwest Indiana.

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Pete is a tireless supporter of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This incredible national treasure of 15,000 pristine acres along the south shore of Lake Michigan in the midst of an urban environment is one of the most biodiverse areas in the United States. The dunes, oak savannas, swamps, bogs, marshes, prairies, rivers, and forests of the Lakeshore are home to over 1,100 species of vascular plants, over 350 species of birds, and dozens of species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects. As a result of his efforts for the Indiana Dunes National Lakshore and the entire National Park System, Pete was named a “Friend of the National Parks” in July 2011.

Asian Carp

No one wants invasive species to enter the Great Lakes and Pete is committed to finding a permanent and sustainable solution to the Asian carp threat. That is why, as Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Pete worked to fully fund improvements to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Dispersal Barrier Project in P.L. 112-74, the Fiscal Year 2012 Omnibus Appropriations Act.  P.L. 112-74 also authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to immediately implement proposals for emergency action as recommended in the ongoing studies on aquatic nuisance species.  Additionally, to ensure that the efforts to stop Asian carp do not disproportionately affect the economy and people of Northwest Indiana, Pete joined Senator Dan Coats in sponsoring H.R.2432, designed to ensure that the Corps efforts to stop Asian carp are constructive and their consequences are clearly presented before any action takes place. Pete again expressed these sentiments in a joint release with Senator Lugar, Senator Coats, and Representative Pence in response to study on how to address the Asian carp issue.