news

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Congressman Bill Huizenga led a bipartisan group of 35 lawmakers in urging the Biden-Harris Administration to provide at least $400 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the President’s Fiscal Year 2023 Budget, as currently authorized under law.

The lawmakers wrote, “The Great Lakes are a true national treasure that we must continue to prioritize and protect. These waters—Lake Huron, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Superior—comprise the largest surface freshwater system in the world, holding nearly 21 percent of the world’s fresh water supply and 90 percent of the United States’ fresh water supply. The Lakes are an economic driver that support jobs, commerce, agriculture, transportation, and tourism for millions of people across the country.”

“In addition to measurable economic results, the GLRI is producing significant environmental benefits for our region. Over 5,400 river miles have been cleared of dams and other barriers reconnecting fish to important habitat. More than 274 million gallons of untreated runoff and more than 1.5 million pounds of phosphorus, a significant contributor to harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes, have been mitigated and captured through GLRI implemented projects in priority watersheds. Even with the positive results from over 6,000 projects, however, there is still much work to do.”

To view the full letter, please click here.

Dingell is a Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force and has long been an advocate for preserving the Great Lakes and supporting the region. Dingell helped secure $5.5 billion in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act to support and protect ecosystems across the country. Recently, Dingell led introduction of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2021 to reauthorize the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to work with states and other agencies to develop and execute proposals to conserve, restore and manage fish and wildlife populations and their habitats.