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WASHINGTON - Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and David Joyce (R-OH)—co-chairs of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force—led a bipartisan letter urging the Biden-Harris Administration to provide $425 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget, as currently authorized under law.

“The Great Lakes are a true national treasure that we must continue to prioritize and protect each year. 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 lawmakers write. “The Lakes are also a key economic driver for the region that support jobs, commerce, agriculture, transportation, and tourism for millions of people across the country.”

“The GLRI is protecting these waters, revitalizing our waterfronts, and addressing the urgent challenges threatening the health of our communities and the Great Lakes economy,” the lawmakers continue. “Year after year, the GLRI has consistently proven to be an economic and environmental success. Since its inception in 2010, more than $3.3 billion has been used to fund 6,850 projects to combat the greatest threats to the Great Lakes.”

“Support for the Great Lakes and GLRI has long seen strong bipartisan support in Congress. Without consistently robust funding, in line with GLRI’s current authorized levels, would risk reversing years of progress, dramatically reducing the GLRI’s impact, and jeopardizing the environmental and economic health of the region for generations to come,” the lawmakers conclude. “To that end, we strongly urge you to continue this vital investment in the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes by including the authorized level of $425 million for the GLRI in the President’s FY 2024 Budget. Thank you for your consideration of this important request.”

To view the full letter, 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 has annually championed robust funding request each fiscal year for GLRI and helped secure $1 billion in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act to support and protect ecosystems across the country. 

Additionally, Dingell led the enactment 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.