Great Lakes bill heads Bush’s way

Congress is sending President Bush a bill that would extend for two years a federal program to clean up areas of pollution and contaminated sediment around the Great Lakes.

The House voted 411-9 in favor of the measure approving $54 million a year over the next two years.

The original five-year bill, passed in 2003, was to expire this year. The House had sought $150 million a year over five years for the cleanup operation but acceded to a lower level passed by the Senate.

“While it is unfortunate that we could not pass the bill at the funding level approved by the House, I am excited that this cleanup program will continue without interruption,” said the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Vernon J. Ehlers (R-Mich.).