THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Great Lakes United recommend to Governor Granholm that
Michigan enact policies to discourage the paving of Michigan highways with aggregate sourced from environmentally sensitive and ecologically significant areas, such as the shores of Lake Superior.

Therefore be it resolved that Great Lakes United urges the United States Congress to immediately adopt legislation establishing regulations and programs to reduce ballast water discharge that are at least as stringent as the provisions of S. 770, the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act, as introduced in March 2005, which will set nationwide standards and develop technology and place it onboard ships to prevent
releases of non-native invasive species by 2011, which is the preferred national solution.

Therefore be it resolved that Great Lakes United recommends to the State of Illinois, the Mayor of Chicago and the governments of the United States and Canada that a comprehensive study about ways to achieve true separation of the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins be performed by expert entities, and Be it further resolved that this study be completed within two years, followed by immediate implementation of study recommendations to separate the Mississippi River and Great Lakes basins and protect the two watersheds from transfer of invasive species.

Therefore be it resolved that Great Lakes United supports and prioritizes the restoration of natural reefs and aquatic habitat that have been destroyed or degraded due to human activity over the construction of artificial reefs.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Canadian Autoworkers recommends to Transport Canada that the goals of the supplement to the reconnaissance study be to: Examine the engineering needs and costs associated with maintaining the benefit of domestic shipping and jobs to the regional economy, and examine the economic justification of continued access by foreign ships to the Great Lakes basin.

Therefore be it resolved that Great Lakes United urges the governments of Canada and the United States to: Assess all vectors of ANS introductions, including intentional and unintentional, into the Great Lakes and determine the relative risk of each vector. Develop an action plan to prioritize and prevent ANS introductions from all vectors with set implementation deadlines. Develop mandatory federal enforcement programs for implementation of the action plan insuring provisions for citizen suit. Set criteria and standards for ballast water treatment and management that are subject to guaranteed periodic review and revision and that effectively reduce transfers of invasive organisms into and within the Great Lakes. Create and implement a thorough and effective screening process to ensure all policies, treatments and technologies are environmentally sound (as defined in the National Invasive Species Act).

This report outlines five areas in which the Obama administration and 111th Congress can take action to stop invasive species in the United States. It includes: screening intentional imports; preventing inadvertent introductions; funding early detection and response; federal leadership; addressing other funding gaps.

Great Lakes United urges the governments of Canada and the United States to: Assess all vectors of ANS introductions, including intentional and unintentional, into the Great Lakes and determine the relative risk of each vector. Develop an action plan to prioritize and prevent ANS introductions from all vectors with set implementation deadlines. Develop mandatory federal enforcement programs for implementation of the action plan insuring provisions for citizen suit. Set criteria and standards for ballast water treatment and management that are subject to guaranteed periodic review and revision and that effectively reduce transfers of invasive organisms into and within the Great Lakes. Create and implement a thorough and effective screening process to ensure all policies, treatments and technologies are environmentally sound (as defined in the National Invasive Species Act).

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Great Lakes United commends the U.S. Government for
recognizing the importance of sea lamprey control and the need to pursue alternatives to lampricides; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Great Lakes United commends the Canadian Federal Government for its increased commitment to the program; BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Great Lakes United urges the Congress of the United States to fund the commission at the proposed $12 million level so that it can continue to suppress sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes while improving implementation and research into alternative sea lamprey control techniques.

PowerPoint summary of the 2005 report, "Ocean Shipping In the Great Lakes: Transportation Cost Increases That Would Result From A Cessation of Ocean Vessel Shipping". This report concludes that a cessation of ocean shipping on the Great Lakes would result in a transportation cost penalty of US$54.9 million per year.