 A bill authored by Republican Representative Dale Luke of Aiken to put new energy and focus on protecting Minnesota's natural wild rice resources received bipartisan approval from the Minnesota House today, passing 78 to 45. The legislation directs both the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Natural Resources to refocus their efforts on protecting, enhancing, and where appropriate restoring natural wild rice beds in Minnesota. It brings the Department of Natural Resources back into this process, directs them to pick up and complete some research work that they began literally 10 years ago. It provides a little bit of funding to make sure they get that process going to come back to us in January of next year to further ascertain exactly what we need to do to ensure we continue to protect wild rice. We want to make it clear to our state agencies and all the citizens of Minnesota, including our tribal members, that the legislature finds wild rice to be a very important ecologically and culturally valuable aquatic plant, and it is in fact to be protected. The bill now heads to the Senate. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.