Scott Perry vs. Marcy Kaptur: Debate Over Great Lakes Authority Funding

Opposition to Great Lakes Authority Funding

• 💡 Rep. Scott Perry argues against funding the Great Lakes Authority, citing the national debt and the authority's lack of progress since its 2022 authorization.
• 📌 He highlights that the authority has no federal co-chair, no website, and no funded programs, questioning its effectiveness and necessity.
• 💰 Perry contends that the authority's proposed $4 million in funding is duplicative of existing federal economic development programs and better handled at state and local levels.
• ⚠️ He warns that the commission's funding will likely balloon to tens of millions of dollars if not stopped, urging a focus on saving taxpayer money.

Defense of Great Lakes Authority

• 🎯 Rep. Marcy Kaptur opposes Perry's amendment, stating it stems from a lack of understanding of the challenges faced in the Great Lakes region.
• 🌊 She emphasizes the region's economic struggles, job losses due to trade agreements, and significant environmental debt, contrasting it with more economically stable areas.
• 🛠️ Kaptur explains that the delay in funding is due to the executive branch not appointing a co-chair, not a lack of purpose for the authority.
• 💬 She points to communities like Flint, Michigan, which suffered water crises, as examples of why the authority's attention and resources are needed for innovation, workforce development, and restoration.

Rebuttal and Amendment Outcome

• 🤝 Rep. Scott Perry acknowledges shared concerns about hardworking people but reiterates that the federal government's past actions led to job outsourcing.
• 🏛️ He argues that the Great Lakes Authority is an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy, especially since other federal agencies already address economic development.
• ✅ Despite the debate, the amendment to defund the Great Lakes Authority, offered by Rep. Perry, was agreed to by the House.
• 🗣️ Rep. Kaptur then demanded a recorded vote on the amendment's passage.