Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I,Ref-Pulaski) is calling on the U.S. Senate to approve the President's nominees to the International Joint Commission--a bi-national organization which represents the U.S. and Canada in water boundary and water resource matters. Barclay said Upstate needs representation on the International Joint Commission in order to help prevent flood levels of 2017.

“I am calling on our federal representatives to finally approve President Trump's nominees to the International Joint Commission. With the current commissioners and the vacancy, New York and particularly Upstate have no voice on decisions impacting water levels of Lake Ontario and I fear, as a result, makes us vulnerable to flood conditions. We simply cannot have a repeat of the lake levels of 2017 and it is imperative that the President’s nominations are confirmed so they can advocate for policies that will prevent additional property loss and extreme erosion," said Barclay.

Six representatives serve on the IJC--3 from the U.S. and 3 from Canada. One of the President's nominees is former State Assemblywoman Jane Corwin, who, if approved by the U.S. Senate, will serve as the U.S. Section Chair on the IJC. There is one vacancy on the IJC and the President has moved to fill the vacancy and replace the two current U.S. commissioners who supported Plan 2014. Barclay said Plan 2014 is partially to blame for the flooding of 2017. Barclay supports the President's nominees and particularly the appointment of Corwin as the U.S. Section Chair.

"During our tenure in the Assembly, Jane was a colleague and friend and I am confident she would do well in the position in which she has been nominated to serve. I am urging the U.S. Senate move to appoint the new IJC commissioners quickly so Upstate can be better represented where shoreline matters are concerned," said Barclay.