Honor Great Lakes Day

September 7, 2019, as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 7, 2019, as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day in the State of New York; and WHEREAS, The Great Lakes system, including Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Superior, and the St. Lawrence River, is a globally significant resource and ecosystem, holding 21 percent of the world's surface freshwater, providing drinking water to more than 48 million Americans and Canadians, and supplying 56 billion gallons of water per day for municipal, agricultural, and industrial use; and WHEREAS, On September 7, 2012, by signing a revised Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, the United States and Canada reaffirmed their commitment to binational cooperation "to restore, protect, and enhance the water quality of the Great Lakes to promote the ecological health of the Great Lakes Basin"; and WHEREAS, An abundant supply of clean, affordable water is essential to support a healthy population, a thriving economy, and a well-functioning ecosystem; and WHEREAS, As a major source of water for communities located within the Great Lakes basin, the Great Lakes system is a vital resource in which all the region's residents share a common interest; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim September 7, 2019, as Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Appreciation Day in the State of New York, recognizing the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River's contributions to New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.