Biden Budget on Clean Water: Boost to Water Infrastructure, Cuts to Great Lakes Restoration

Contact:Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113Jordan Lubetkin, Lubetkin@nwf.org, (734) 904-1589Biden Budget on Clean Water: Boost to Water Infrastructure, Cuts to Great Lakes RestorationANN ARBOR, MICH. (March 29, 2022)—The Biden Administration’s proposed budget, released yesterday, cuts the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, boosts funding to reduce lead in drinking water, maintains funding for the nation’s primary water infrastructure loan programs, and increases the EPA’s budget to confront climate change and address environmental injustices.“The Biden Administration’s proposed budget supports clean water priorities broadly, while coming up short in funding the nation’s marquee Great Lakes restoration program,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Federal investments to restore the Great Lakes and address pollution have been immensely important over the years. However, serious threats remain, and with many communities still grappling with health-threatening pollution, it’s important that the federal government do all that it can to ensure that every person has access to clean, safe and affordable water.“The Biden Administration’s proposed budget provides a strong starting point for the U.S. House and Senate to discuss how best the country can meet its clean water goals. The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition looks forward to working with members of Congress to make sure Great Lakes and clean water priorities receive the attention they deserve in the federal budget in order to protect our Great Lakes, drinking water, public health, and way of life.”The Biden Administration’s budget contains:

• $11.9 billion for the U.S. EPA for fiscal year 2023. Congress funded the agency at $9.56 billion in the current fiscal year.
• $340.1 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Congress funded the GLRI at $348 in the current fiscal year.
• $1.64 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps communities fix and upgrade wastewater infrastructure. Congress funded the program at $1.64 billion in the current fiscal year.
• $1.13 billion for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which helps communities fix and upgrade drinking water infrastructure. Congress funded the program at $1.13 billion in the current fiscal year.
• $140 million for grants to communities to confront environmental injustices. Congress funded the program at $94 million in the current fiscal year.
• $182 million for the Reducing Lead in Drinking Water program, which is an increase of more than $160 million over previously enacted.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 170 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at www.HealthyLakes.org or follow us on Twitter @HealthyLakes