Statement to Mississippi River Commission
Low Water Inspection and Public Hearing
Dubuque, IA Aug. 13, 2013
Mississippi River Network
Claudia Emken, Policy Manager
The Mississippi River Network is a coalition of 47 organizations dedicated to protecting and restoring the Mississippi River. We have developed a national, unified campaign to bring attention to the needs of the whole River and call for a unified plan of action to restore and protect the River for all people. Member organizations of the Network have identified several policy priorities that support the health of the River, including good, sound conservation programs in a five year farm bill and revised and improved Principles and Guidelines for federal agencies as they plan water resources projects.
In addition, the Mississippi River Network oversees a public campaign called 1 Mississippi. Through 1 Mississippi, we raise awareness, educate, and motivate individuals–River Citizens–to speak up to protect and restore the River.
Our goal is to have 10,000 River Citizens signed up by mid-2014. We are well on our way with more than 9,000 River Citizens today. We are in Iowa today; 1 Mississippi knows Iowans care about the health of their waters because Iowa leads all 10 states along the mainstem of the Mississippi River with the most River Citizens—2,155 out of those 9,000!
River Citizens are found in all 50 states, and without a doubt, we are one Nation and 1 Mississippi. We invite you, the Mississippi River Commission to become River Citizens today.
Thank you.