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Today, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and her colleagues on the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill will reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which is set to expire at the end of FY 2026, for another five years through FY 2031. The bill increases the FY 2026 authorization level from $475 million to $500 million starting in FY 2027. 

Along with the introduction of this bill, the Great Lakes Task Force was officially relaunched for the 119^th Congress. Representatives Dingell, Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), and Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04) will serve as Co-Chairs and are the House co-leads of the GLRI Act. 

"The Great Lakes are not only an important natural resource but a critical economic driver that supports communities, jobs, commerce, agriculture, transportation, and tourism for millions of people across the country. Since it was established, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been an environmental and economic success, and is fundamental to protecting, restoring, and maintaining the Great Lakes ecosystem and economy," said Congresswoman Dingell, Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force. “I’m proud to join my Great Lakes Task Force colleagues again this Congress to fight for robust, bipartisan support and funding for the GLRI to ensure we can protect the Great Lakes, their wildlife, and the communities that depend on them for generations to come.”

“Demonstrating a tangible return on investment, every Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) dollar spent produces $3.35 in economic activity. As a co-chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force and a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations, funding the GLRI is among my highest priorities,” said Congresswoman Kaptur, Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force. “The GLRI is instrumental in funding unmet needs for our region and the millions of people who depend on our Great Lakes as a source of clean and safe drinking water, for their livelihood, and for recreation and leisure activities. In 2020 alone, the GLRI contributed $3.1 Trillion to our economy, including 25.8 million jobs and $1.3 Trillion in wages. Robust funding that benefits our communities and people isn’t just common sense, it is vital to maintaining and growing our communities for generations to come.”

“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative supports efforts that confront direct threats facing the lakes like harmful algal blooms, water pollution, invasive species, and coastal erosion,” said Congressman Joyce, Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force. “I am proud to not only introduce this bill as my first piece of legislation this Congress, but also relaunch the bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force in the House of Representatives. I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect and preserve the national treasure that is the Great Lakes ecosystem.”

“The Great Lakes serve as a vital source of economic activity, recreation, and drinking water for millions of Americans,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga, Republican Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force. “Studies from both Grand Valley State University and the University of Michigan show how the economic health of the Great Lakes is directly tied to their ecological well-being. In fact, according to the University of Michigan, for every $1 invested in the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, $3.35 of economic output is produced. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is the leading federal program designed to clean up legacy pollution, restore habitats, and combat invasive species across the basin.  I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and make preserving, protecting, and strengthening the Great Lakes a national priority.”

House cosponsors of the bill are Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Pete Stauber (R-MN), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Brad Schneider (D-IL), John James (R-MI), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Bill Foster (D-IL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Joseph Morelle (D-IL), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Sean Casten (D-IL), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Frank Mrvan (D-IN), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI). 

This bill is endorsed by Great Lakes Commission, American Sportfishing Association, Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Alliance for the Great Lakes, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Ohio Environmental Council, National Audubon Society, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Great Lakes Business Network, Save the Dunes, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Environmental Law & Policy Center, League of Conservation Voters, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Clean Wisconsin, American Rivers.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is critical in cleaning up the Great Lakes and waterways, and addressing problems that directly impact public health and safety. The Initiative has focused efforts to stop the spread of invasive carp and other invasive species, restore coastline, and prevent future contamination. Since  2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has provided more than $4.1 billion to fund 8,000 projects throughout the Great Lakes region.

As Co-Chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, Dingell 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.