Analysis: Biden Budget on Great Lakes, Drinking Water
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589
Analysis: Biden Budget on Great Lakes, Drinking Water
The Biden Administration released its proposed federal budget on March 9. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has analyzed the budget vis-à-vis our core clean water and Great Lakes programs.
Overall, the administration’s budget supports many of the Coalition’s priorities. There are some pleasant surprises: The budget recommends substantial boosts in funding to reduce lead in drinking water, help small and disadvantaged communities, and provide grants to states and tribes to tackle water quality challenges. There are also areas where the administration takes a more status quo approach: The proposed budget essentially keeps current funding levels for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and EPA’s programs to help communities update their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
The Coalition’s funding priorities can be found on our website.
“The Biden Administration has established a solid base-line budget for Great Lakes and clean water programs,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “There’s a lot to like and there are some things we’d like to see improved so that we can continue to tackle the urgent threats to the region’s drinking water, public health, and quality of life. Federal investments to restore the lakes have been producing results, but serious threats remain. Not fully funding programs now will only make these problems worse and more expense to solve. With many cities and towns still addressing serious water pollution issues, we need to be doing more, not less, to ensure everyone has access to clean, safe and affordable water. We look forward to working with Congress to make sure that the nation continues to invest in essential clean water programs.”
Highlights of the Biden Administration’s proposed budget include:
$368 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to clean up toxic pollution, reduce farm runoff, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and prevent and manage invasive species.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $368 million
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition (Coalition) Request: $425 million, as authorized
$1.369 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help communities update their wastewater infrastructure, and $1.126 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help communities update their drinking water infrastructure.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $1.639 billion and $1.126 billion respectively
Coalition Request: $4.639 billion and $4.126 billion respectively, as authorized
$280 million for sewer overflow and stormwater reuse grants.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $50 million
Coalition Request: $280 million, as authorized
$182 to reduce lead in drinking water.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $25 million
Coalition Request: $200 million
$80 million to small and disadvantaged communities for infrastructure assistance.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $30.2 million
Coalition Request: $100 million, as authorized
$189 million to reduce non-point source pollution.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $182 million
Coalition Request: $200 million, as authorized
$50 million to help households that are not on a centralized water system.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $0
Coalition Request: $50 million, as authorized
$279.4 million to help states and tribes with their water pollution control programs.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $237 million
Coalition Request: $500 million
$0 Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act to fund habitat restoration projects.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $3 million
Coalition Request: $8 million, as authorized
$0 for Fish and Wildlife Service and $10.6 million for the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor, control, and eradicate invasive carp.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $31 million and $11 million respectively
Coalition Request: $35 million and $15 million respectively
$53.8 million for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to manage and protect the region’s fishery.
Fiscal year 2023 enacted: $50 million
Coalition Request: $53.8 million
The president’s budget historically marks the start of the process for the U.S. Congress to pass a budget to fund the government. The 2024 fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2024.
Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 175 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes.
