2017 Governor's State of the State speeches: on Environment

John Kasich: $2.5B invested in cleaning Lake Erie, and keep it clean

This region continues to generate good memories for hundreds of thousands who come here for the recreation, the resources, and the hospitality Lake Erie coast is known for.

And we're investing a lot in our lake--Randy Gardner is always on top of that--and our coastal resources to make the water cleaner and keep it that way. About two and half billion dollars have been invested in Lake Erie since the start of the Administration. Yes, we want to make it cleaner, and we aim to keep it clean. And I hope those that come after me will realize this is the great, great jewel of the state of Ohio, and that's the great Lake Erie.

These are investments in water and natural resources, the quality of life, but of course they're also an investment in economic growth because we know that when we take care of the world around us it becomes another reason for job creators to want to put down roots here and want to grow.

Source: 2017 Ohio State of the State address Apr 5, 2017

Chris Sununu: Fund asbestos cleanup, and clean water infrastructure

Schools with health and safety issues in towns that might not be able to otherwise address things like asbestos, lead paint, or other critical safety issues and these are where our school building aid will be targeted and funded.

One of the other critical areas of public health and safety that this administration is making a priority is drinking water. There is no bigger public trust than every time we as citizens turn on that faucet. We trust that our government has done their job in ensuring clean water for us and our children.

New Hampshire has protected the Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund. This fund of nearly $300 Million stands ready to be invested in vital infrastructure improvements across the state. Funds that can now be used in partnership with local communities to secure one of our most precious resources.

Source: 2017 New Hampshire State of the State address Feb 9, 2017

Jim Justice: I love the outdoors, but regulatory agencies tell you no

So many times our regulatory agencies absolutely, no matter what on earth we try to do, they're there to tell you no. They're not there to tell us no.

Now, I underline--underline, underline, underline--nobody loves the outdoors as much as me. Nobody loves water as much as me. We're not going to break the law. We're got going to do anything to damage the environment to the very best of our abilities. Or our waters. But we are not going to just say no.

Source: 2017 West Virginia State of the State address Feb 8, 2017

Larry Hogan: Reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in Chesapeake Bay

We have been leading with bold initiatives to safeguard our environment:

We successfully negotiated a compromise phosphorus management solution, which was a huge step toward protecting the Chesapeake Bay.
We invested the most ever in the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, and again this year, we are fully funding bay restoration efforts.
We restored $60 million previously drained from Program Open Space.
And, after years of the problem being ignored, we are finally seeking innovative and cost-effective solutions to reduce the sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus pollution which flows down the Susquehanna River over the Conowingo Dam and which is a serious threat to the Chesapeake Bay.

Just a few months ago on its latest annual report card, the Chesapeake Bay received its highest score for water quality in nearly a quarter century. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in the bay has dropped dramatically compared to recent years. Source: 2017 State of the State address to Maryland Legislature Feb 1, 2017

Bruce Rauner: Test drinking water for lead, as social justice issue

Another critical initiative of the Children's Cabinet is reducing young children's exposure to lead. Democrats and Republicans stood together in signing a bill that requires all schools and day care centers to test their drinking water regularly for lead, and inform parents of the results. Reducing lead exposure--which disproportionally affects low-income children and children of color--is a social justice issue. Source: 2017 State of the State address to Illinois Legislature Jan 25, 2017

Phil Scott: $50M for clean-up of our impaired waterways

If there is one thing Vermonters agree on, it is love of our landscape. Whether you hunt, fish, ski or hike, our landscape contributes to our high quality of life. It plays a significant role in the $2.5 billion spent annually by tourists and vacation homeowners.

To further protect this working landscape, my budget makes investments to support our Agencies of Agriculture and Natural Resources, plus important partner organizations.

Protecting our lakes, streams and landscape is vital to our economic security. That's why I am committed to cleaning up our waterways, using existing state resources and financial tools.

My capital and transportation budgets commit $20 million in each of the next two years for clean-up of our impaired waterways. I will commit another $10 million from existing revenue and other sources, for the full $50 million in funding.

Source: 2017 Vermont State of the State address Jan 25, 2017

Rick Snyder: Pure Michigan: promote tourism like U.P. and brewery trail

Tourism: thanks to Pure Michigan we are showing America just how beautiful we think our home state is. I am a huge fan of kayaking, rock hunting, I even tried elk bugling last year. One of my favorite experiences was biking the brewery and wine trail in the Thumb. It was absolutely beautiful. We have so many awesome things to do in our state and we should be proud. One of the great things was what Lonely Planet did for us. They named the U.P. one of the top 10 value destinations for 2017 and it was in a category the only place in the United States along with Venice, Morocco, Belize and Nepal. The U.P. is right up there with the best in the world.

To give you more perspective though, Michigan had the highest growth in incoming international visitors of any state in the nation from 2014 to 2015. The secret is getting out and I couldn't be happier about it.

Source: 2017 Michigan State of the State address Jan 17, 2017

Rick Snyder: More resources to fight invasive species in Great Lakes

On wetlands: They are vital to our wildlife and infrastructure. We have lost an estimated four million acres of wetlands over the last few decades. We're going to do something unique this year. The DNR is going to create a public private partnership on state land to work with local landowners to say we can use state lands as a mitigation bank to help encourage development and at the same time protecting our environment.

Invasive carp [is] one of the greatest threats to our state. We need to do more. We've invested resources, but we need to catalyze all the Great Lake states on doing more, and our nation. One of the ways we are going to do this is: we're creating an international crowdsourcing challenge.

On the topic of environmental justice, I'm going to announce a work group on the issue of environmental justice to make sure all Michiganders have a clean, safe, healthy environment no matter who they are or where they live.

Source: 2017 Michigan State of the State address Jan 17, 2017

Rick Snyder: Work tirelessly, plus $27M, to make Flint's water safe

Make no mistake, Flint was a sad chapter in the history of our state. Last year the people of Flint suffered an unacceptable crisis. I made a commitment to the people of Flint to fix it. We took immediate action and in the following days and months we've worked tirelessly to make Flint's water safe to drink again and improve the entire city of Flint. We're making progress but our work is not yet. We all owe the people of Flint a solution and we've worked hard to deliver that, we are going to continue to be committed to that. In terms of progress, though, on the water front we have new test results and by June of 2016 this last year we provided $27 million to help with lead pipe replacements to the city of Flint. To date we've seen progress, over 600 pipes have been replaced and we look forward to working with the city on accelerating the progress of that. Source: 2017 Michigan State of the State address Jan 17, 2017

Matt Mead: Improve Endangered Species Act: only 1% ever got delisted

Among 11 new initiatives, we're working to make changes in the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973. Since 1973, all the species listed, a little over just one percent have ever been delisted. It needs help. As chairman of the Western Governors Association, my initiative was to get the western states on board to change and improve the Endangered Species Act, and as you can be aware, all western states don't have the same politics as Wyoming has. While we worked together with outdoor groups, with environmental groups, we put together a proposal, and I'm pleased to say in June of last year Western Governors voted unanimously for improvements to the Endangered Species Act. We're now going to take it to the National Governors Association, and we're going to take it to Congress. It's time to make improvements to the Endangered Species Act. Source: 2017 State of the State address to Wyoming Legislature Jan 11, 2017

Gary Herbert: Re-opened National Parks during 2013 shutdown

I see the Utah spirit as we set aside differences and work together for the common good. I witnessed this firsthand in the Fall of 2013. The gateway communities for our national parks were facing millions of dollars of lost revenue if the parks stayed closed as part of the federal government shutdown.

We immediately reached out to the Interior Secretary. And I still remember vividly our first conversation. She agreed that it would be best for the parks to reopen but that nothing could be done.

My response was "rather than talk about what we can't do, let's talk about what we can do." And within 72 hours from that call, with the support of local communities and legislative leadership the parks reopened and the tourists returned.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Utah Legislature Jan 4, 2017

Robert Bentley: Gulf State Park: economically & environmentally sustainable

There is simply no place like Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast, and the incredible Gulf State Park Project is well on its way to becoming an international benchmark of economic and environmental sustainability. On track to open next year, the Gulf State Park Project will be the pride of our state for outdoor recreation, education and hospitality. Source: 2017 State of the State address to Alabama Legislature Feb 7, 2016

The above quotations are from 2017 Governor's State of the State speeches. Click here for definitions & background information on Environment. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Eric Greitens on Environment. Click here for more quotes by Eric Holcomb on Environment.
*Candidates and political leaders on Environment:*
*Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:* GA:Chambliss(R) IA:Harkin(D) MI:Levin(D) MT:Baucus(D) NE:Johanns(R) OK:Coburn(R) SD:Johnson(D) WV:Rockefeller(D) *Resigned from 113th House:* AL-1:Jo Bonner(R) FL-19:Trey Radel(R) LA-5:Rod Alexander(R) MA-5:Ed Markey(D) MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R) NC-12:Melvin Watt(D) SC-1:Tim Scott(R)	*Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:* AR-4:Tom Cotton(R) GA-1:Jack Kingston(R) GA-10:Paul Broun(R) GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R) HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D) IA-1:Bruce Braley(D) LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R) ME-2:Mike Michaud(D) MI-14:Gary Peters(D) MT-0:Steve Daines(R) OK-5:James Lankford(R) PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D) TX-36:Steve Stockman(R) WV-2:Shelley Capito(R)	*Retired House as of Jan. 2015:* AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R) AR-2:Tim Griffin(R) CA-11:George Miller(D) CA-25:Howard McKeon(R) CA-33:Henry Waxman(D) CA-45:John Campbell(R) IA-3:Tom Latham(R) MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R) NC-6:Howard Coble(R) NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D) NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R) NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D) NY-21:Bill Owens(D) PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R) UT-4:Jim Matheson(D) VA-8:Jim Moran(D) VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 10, 2018