The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition responded to the House Appropriations Committee release of its Fiscal Year 2027 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, expressing deep concern over the continued erosion of federal investments in water infrastructure while acknowledging continued bipartisan support for Great Lakes restoration programs.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and over 101 of our member organizations urged House appropriations subcommittees to support robust funding for Great Lakes restoration and clean water priorities in their Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition applauds the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for convening today's hearing on restoration efforts in the Great Lakes region.

By cleaning up their most degraded areas, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Buffalo have created thriving lakeshore business districts, helped people reconnect with nature, and laid the groundwork for population growth into the future. Learn more about how they’re contributing to the Great Lakes region’s “blue economy.”

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is deeply concerned by the federal budget proposal released today for its sweeping, reckless cuts to the agencies and programs that protect the Great Lakes, enforce clean water laws, and safeguard the drinking water of more than 30 million Americans across the region.

Great Lakes Coalition to urge members of Congress to continue their support for federal investments to protect the drinking water, public health, jobs, and quality of life for the millions of people in the eight-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. 

Materials from Great Lakes Day 2026

For communities across Wisconsin, access to safe, clean, affordable drinking water is a persistent concern. Lead service lines, aging water infrastructure, and harmful contaminates like nitrates are among the many factors that necessitate extensive—and expensive—repairs to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems throughout the state. Two federal-state partnerships—the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) are integral to provide financial support for these necessary updates.