A bill that would extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for another five years is headed to the presidentâs desk.
The U.S. Senate recently passed legislation that would extend the program as well as increase authorized funding for the program from $300 million annually to $475 million annually by fiscal year 2026.
GLRI gives federal funds to the eight-state Great Lakes region for projects that have removed toxic wastes from industrial harbors, fought invasive species such as Asian carp, restored wildlife habitat and supported efforts to prevent harmful algal blooms.
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âGLRI is a successful public-private partnership that has helped address the greatest threats to the Great Lakes, including harmful algal blooms, invasive species, pollution, and contamination,â Sen. Rob Portman said in a statement following the billâs passage. âDespite the programâs success, there is more work to be done. Lake Erie supports fishing and tourism i
Senate sends Great Lakes cleanup bill to Trump
The bill, which passed the House in February, now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk.
It extends for another five years funding for waterways and related habitat cleanup that was set to expire in 2021. The legislation also boosts the authorized funding level for the program from $300 million to $375 million in the 2022 fiscal year and increases funding by $25 million a year until it reaches $475 million in 2026.
“In Michigan, this program has helped clean up contamination, restore wetlands and fight invasive species, but there is much more to be done,” said Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who co-authored the bill creating the program in 2010 and applauded Sunday’s passage.