Senate Bill Maintains Great Lakes Commitment
Senate Bill Maintains Great Lakes Commitment
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, (734) 887-7113
Senate Bill Maintains Great Lakes Commitment
Bipartisan legislation sets stage for accelerated progress to protect drinking water, public health, Great Lakes.
ANN ARBOR, MICH. (February 11, 2025)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports new bipartisan federal legislation to restore and protect the Great Lakes – the source of drinking water for more than 42 million people. The Senate legislation reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, allowing up to $500 million annually in support of restoration actions in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to clean up toxic pollution, curb farm and city runoff, restore wildlife habitat, and confront invasive species.
Passage of the bill in the 119th Congress is a top priority for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition.
“This bill is a winner for millions of people in the region,” said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We thank Senators Gary Peters and Todd Young for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to tackle the serious threats to the region’s drinking water, public health, jobs, and quality of life. Federal investments to restore the lakes have been producing results in communities across the region, but serious threats remain.
“This bill sets the stage to accelerate progress in addressing challenges to our vital water resources. This bill also addresses the reality that if we scale back investments now, problems will only get worse and more expensive to solve. We look forward to working with the Great Lakes congressional delegation to pass this bipartisan bill that supports common sense solutions to protect our drinking water, public health, jobs and quality of life.”
The bill, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025 (S.528), was introduced today in the U.S. Senate by Senators Todd Young (R-IN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jon Husted (R-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 reauthorizes the successful federal program for five more years, from fiscal years 2027 through 2031. The Senate bill mirrors a similar bill introduced in January by Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House.
Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition members expressed strong support for the new legislation.
“The simple fact is the GLRI funds critical projects that make life better for the millions of Americans that depend on the Great Lakes,” said Joel Brammeier, Alliance for the Great Lakes President and CEO. “It also delivers a positive economic return on the government’s investment in cleaner water and healthier communities. Senator Peters and Senator Young along with other Great Lakes senators have our gratitude for introducing this important bill.”
“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been incredibly effective at restoring and protecting the Great Lakes and the rivers that flow into them,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, senior vice president of conservation, American Rivers. “There has been no more important a time to save our nation’s clean water resources and we urge passage of this important piece of legislation to continue the good work it has done for millions of people in the Great Lakes communities and downstream.”
“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been vital to Audubon’s work to restore and conserve over 10,000 acres of wetlands across the Great Lakes region, which is providing the habitat that vulnerable birds like the Least Bittern need and helping to protect communities from flooding,” said Marnie Urso, senior policy director, National Audubon Society, Great Lakes. “We urge Congress to move swiftly to pass the bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025 to protect and restore our Great Lakes.”
“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has served as an unquestionable success for our environment, economy, and quality of life; we applaud the bipartisan effort to reauthorize this critical program,” said Brian Smith, Associate Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE). “In New York State, the GLRI has helped to protect the drinking water for over four million residents, transform Buffalo’s waterfront, clean up the toxic area of concern in the Rochester Embayment, and much more. However, our work is far from done—four of NY’s toxic hot spots remain listed, invasive species wreak havoc on the ecosystem, and drinking water remains at risk. We urge Congress to pass this vital legislation and follow through on the promise to protect our Great Lakes for future generations.”
“With funds from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the Conservation Resource Alliance in Michigan is able to protect and enhance over 700 miles of rivers, 5,000 miles of tributaries, and diverse stands of forests across 4 million acres,” said Suzie Knoll, executive director, Conservation Resource Alliance. “Remarkably, since GLRI’s inception in 2009, CRA has multiplied the impact of GLRI investments by leveraging an additional $10 million of other federal, state, local and private funds to improve infrastructure and restore fish and wildlife habitat in our watersheds. With your support of the bill, we commit to protecting the aesthetic, ecological and economic value of Michigan's vital waterways and forests, ensuring a resilient Great Lakes region.”
“The GLRI is one of the country's most successful fish and wildlife conservation programs, and its investments support a nearly $20 billion recreational fishing and hunting economy in the Great Lakes region,” said Ducks Unlimited’s regional director of public policy for the Great Lakes Kyle Rorah. “Federal investments like this stimulate rural economies and support culturally significant outdoor activities that are part of our shared identity in this part of the country.”
“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,” said Howard Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “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.”
"The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is the most successful effort to protect and clean up our Great Lakes in U.S. history," said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of Michigan League of Conservation Voters. “Our Great Lakes face emerging challenges, like toxic PFAS contamination, invasive species, rapidly warming temperatures and the impacts of climate change, which makes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025 more important than ever. Protecting our treasured Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for millions of people, is something all Michiganders can get behind, and we look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to get this legislation signed into law.”
“This act is another step closer to restorative justice for communities impacted by environmental injustices across the Great Lakes Basin who bear the brunt of environmental risks through no fault of their own,” said Brenda Coley, co-executive director, Milwaukee Water Commons. “The legacy of the GLRI must be the enduring health of our communities, access to living wage employment and restorative access to our common waters for everyone.”
“Thanks to Senators Klobuchar and Smith for stepping up to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative,” said Steve Morse, executive director, Minnesota Environmental Partnership. “Duluth, the North Shore, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage and the entire state have all greatly benefited from this work over the last several years, and there is still much critical work left to do to make sure Lake Superior lives up to its name.”
"The Great Lakes are the lifeblood of our region, sustaining our health, economy, and environment," said Rebecca Meuninck, Great Lakes regional executive director for the National Wildlife Federation. "We thank the cosponsors for their leadership in championing this essential legislation. As Senator Peters prepares to retire, this bill stands as part of his enduring legacy—ensuring that restoration efforts continue for generations to come."
“Lake Erie is a treasure for all Ohioans, providing drinking water for 11 million people, including 3 million Ohioans, and supporting a thriving tourism industry that generates over $15 billion annually. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025 will continue to fund vital programs to restore and protect Lake Erie, tackling challenges like aging water infrastructure, invasive species, flooding, and toxic pollutants,” said Melanie Houston, Managing Director of Water Policy, Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund. “By securing this critical funding, we are not only preserving Lake Erie’s natural beauty and resources but also safeguarding public health, strengthening local economies, and ensuring a vibrant future for generations to come.”
“As a national network of water advocates, River Network encourages Congress to support the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act. GLRI funding advances essential, interconnected work to provide clean and safe water for communities across the Great Lakes region and is a critical piece of ensuring clean water nationwide,” said Hannah Mico, Resilient Communities Manager, River Network.
“For several years the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) has served as a critical source of funding for invasive species management and habitat restoration in Northwest Indiana, and Save the Dunes is a proud supporter of the GLRI,” said Harshini Ratnayaka, advocacy program manager, Save the Dunes. “This funding allows for our organization to help support the Indiana Dunes National Park and other conservation partners to protect the Indiana dunes, Lake Michigan, and the surrounding natural areas for the health and vitality of the environment, and the people who live, work, and recreate in Northwest Indiana.”
“The Great Lakes are not just a regional treasure—they are a national asset, providing drinking water for over 40 million people, supporting diverse ecosystems, and driving billions of dollars in economic activity. Being good stewards of these vital waters means doing everything we can to insulate them from a growing list of challenges like pollution, invasive species, and a rapidly changing climate,” said Brian Gill, Senior Director, Government Affairs & Policy, Shedd Aquarium. “The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been a cornerstone of collective efforts to protect and restore this critical resource, funding essential programs that combat harmful algal blooms, clean up contaminated coastlines, and protect aquatic species and spaces. By working together, we have made incredible progress in this region, and we cannot risk losing that momentum. We urge our nation’s leaders to pass this important bill to fully fund the GLRI, and in doing so, invest in clean water, healthy communities, and sustainable, blue futures.”
“People who live in and visit the Great Lakes states have spoken. Polls and surveys consistently show our support and love of these natural wonders! Funding for restoration projects has proven, time and time again, to be money well spent. As one of the major sources of funding, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is essential for making these restoration projects possible. We are proud to support the GLRI, which results in the elimination of invasive species, healthier habitat for fish and wildlife, removal of contaminated sediment and cleaner water for drinking, fishing and recreating,” said Erma Leaphart, Organizer, Sierra Club Michigan Chapter, Great Lakes Program and Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition, Co-Chair and Michigan Co-Lead. “Healthier watersheds and cleaner water spur business growth and tourism, which makes our economy, the environment, and our communities stronger and healthier, and a desirable place for all to live, work and play. Reauthorizing the GLRI is a vital step in the right direction. Thank you to Senators Peters and Young for introducing this bill to reauthorize GLRI.”
“This legislation will help to ensure that every person who relies on the Great Lakes for freshwater has access to safe, affordable water,” said Monica Lewis-Patrick, President & CEO, We the People of Detroit. “Strengthening the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative helps address key factors contributing to water affordability challenges, such as pollution, failing infrastructure, and contamination. Continued federal investment will lead to healthier communities and lower water treatment costs for families across the Great Lakes region.
Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 180 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 social media @HealthyLakes.
