It's now up to Congress to approve a pact that would keep Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes region.

All states bordering at least one of the lakes have passed the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin Sustainable Water Resources Agreement. It's a pact that sets limits on taking water from the lakes for use outside the region.

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell this week signed the legislation into law in their respective states. The other states - New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio - had already approved the agreement. So did the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Congress needs to approve the pact because states can't enter into agreements with foreign governments. Legislation is expected to be introduced by Michigan Democratic Senator Carl Levin and Ohio Republican Senator George Voinovich, says an Associated Press story.

Minnesota Democrat James Oberstar is likely to introduce a bill in the House, says the AP. He's chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

This morning, the Monroe County Water Authority board passed a resolution in support of the agreement. It directed Executive Director Ed Marianetti to write to the local Congressional delegation urging members to vote in favor of the pact.