As expected, companion legislation aimed at reauthorizing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was reintroduced into the U.S. Senate this week.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative of 2025 was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives in early January, within days after the new Congress began. The U.S. Senate passed its version of a five-year reauthorization of the GLRI on Dec. 4, but it died because the House didn’t get its passed before Congress adjourned for its holiday recess.
The new Senate version was introduced Tuesday by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D., Mich.) and U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R., Ind.). Ohio’s two U.S. senators, Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, were listed on a long list of cosponsors.
The latest House version was introduced by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo), U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D., Mich.), U.S. Rep. David Joyce (R., Ohio), and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R. Mich.), also with multiple cosponsors.
Both versions call for the GLRI to be reauthorized for another five years and funded at $500 million annually.
The current funding level is $475 million a year.
The GLRI provides money for cleanup of toxic sediments, improved wildlife habitat, efforts to curb algal blooms, controlling invasive species, and other issues aimed at improving water quality and the Great Lakes region’s environment in general.
Don Jodrey, Alliance for the Great Lakes federal government relations director, said the GLRI “directly benefits the tens of millions of Americans living in the Great Lakes region.”
“Protecting safe clean drinking water, healthy fisheries and the enjoyable outdoor recreation for all is not a partisan issue,” said Howard Learner, Environmental Law & Policy Center executive director. “All of us love the Great Lakes.”
About $4 billion of federal money has been spent on projects since the GLRI’s inception in 2010.
Most recently, GLRI money has been used to improve two Maumee River islands in South Toledo near Walbridge Park, Clark Island and Delaware/Horseshoe Island. The combined $13.5 million of work includes $8.15 million from Gov. Mike DeWine’s H2Ohio program and $5.4 million in GLRI money released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“Great Lakes birds and communities are safer thanks to restoration efforts across the region, but significant threats persist. We must remain steadfast in protecting and restoring the Great Lakes which provide drinking water for 40 million people and habitat for millions of birds,” according to a statement issue by Audubon Great Lakes.
About 30 million Americans and 10 million Canadians live in the region. The Great Lakes hold 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water.
First Published February 12, 2025, 3:51 p.m.
