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Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Dave Joyce (R-OH) – co-chairs of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force – led a bipartisan letter urging the Biden-Harris Administration to provide $450 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 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. Year after year, the GLRI has consistently proven to be an economic and environmental success. Since its inception in 2010, more than $3.7 billion has been invested across 7,500 projects to combat the greatest threats to the Great Lakes,” the lawmakers continue. “For example, over 6,000 river miles have been cleared of dams and other barriers reconnecting fish to important habitat. More than 375 million gallons of untreated runoff and more than 2 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.”

“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 $450 million for the GLRI in the President’s FY 2025 Budget. Thank you for your consideration of this important request.”

To view the full letter, click here.