Kirk helps protect Lake Michigan

In 2007 there were 793 beach safety advisories issued for Lake Michigan beaches, a 34 percent increase from 2006. Twenty-three percent of beach water samples failed the national health safety standards. Nearly 300 people a week get sick from swimming in Lake Michigan. This state of affairs is appalling. Thankfully, Congressman Mark Kirk is working to correct it.

Congressman Kirk recently joined his colleague, Judy Biggert, to unveil the Beach Protection Act. Their bill would reauthorize and expand the very successful BEACH Act, which supports states' beach-monitoring programs and their ability to alert the public to health risks. Kirk and Biggert would expand the programs and mandate better public notification of health risks.

Kirk is also working to address the likely root causes of Lake Michigan pollution. He is fighting to ban sewage dumping into Lake Michigan and to require better treatment of stormwater that drains into the lake.

Lake Michigan is the jewel of Illinois and a linchpin of our economy. We have a responsibility to ensure that it remains clean and safe. I'm glad Congressman Kirk takes that responsibility seriously.

Terri Graham

Deerfield