January 15, 2026
Today, the U.S. Senate voted to provide $369 million of funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative program for Fiscal Year 2026 as part of the broader Appropriation Package for FY 2026. This program has strong bipartisan support and is essential to continue restoring and protecting the Great Lakes.
STATEMENT BY HOWARD A. LEARNER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY CENTER
“The Environmental Law & Policy Center commends the U.S. Senate for approving $369 million of funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026. Protecting safe clean drinking water, healthy fisheries and enjoyable outdoor recreation for all is not a partisan issue. The Great Lakes is where we live, work and play.
“The Great Lakes provide drinking water supplies to 42 million people. Robust funding for the GLRI is vital to alleviate toxic algae blooms in western Lake Erie, Green Bay and Lake Superior, reduce threats from invasive carp and other invasive species, 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.
“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.
“We urge the Senate to reauthorize the program for the next five years consistent with S. 528, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 to ensure the program continues to deliver robust environmental and economic benefits across the Great Lakes region.”