December 18, 2025
Today, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee voted to advance H.R. 6422, American Water Stewardship Act which includes the reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). There is strong bipartisan support for this successful program with projects that protect and restore the Great Lakes. H.R. 6422 increases funding for the GLRI program to $500 million for fiscal years 2027-2031. The bill now moves to the House floor for a vote.
STATEMENT BY HOWARD A. LEARNER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER
“The Great Lakes is where we live, work and play. The Environmental Law & Policy Center strongly supports this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the successful Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) for fiscal years 2027-31. Protecting safe, clean drinking water, healthy fisheries and enjoyable outdoor recreation for all is not a partisan issue. All of us love the Great Lakes.
“The Great Lakes provide drinking water supplies to 42 million people and support a $62 billion economy based on fishing, boating and recreational activities. Since GLRI was launched in 2010, it has provided about $4 billion in essential funding to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface waterbody in the world.
“Reauthorizing GLRI for the next five years with increased funding is essential to alleviate toxic algae blooms in western Lake Erie, Green Bay and Lake Superior, reduce threats from invasive carp and other invasive species, remediate toxic “areas of concern,” and protect shoreline wetlands and coastal resilience. More intense storms driven by climate change create significantly more stress on Great Lakes infrastructure and the ecosystem.”