February 11, 2025
Today, U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025. The two senators were joined by Senators Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Jon Husted (R-OH), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and John Fetterman (D-PA). This bill continues support for the very successful federal program restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. The bill increases the Fiscal Year 2026 authorization level to $500 million from $475 million starting in FY 2027. The U.S. House of Representatives introduced a similar bill last month.
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 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. 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, 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. GLRI projects also support a $62 billion economy based on fishing, boating and recreational activities.”