U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Dave Joyce (R-OH) said they firmly oppose the Trump administration’s fiscal year (FY) 2020 budget request because it would cut federal funds by 90 percent for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).
“For the third year in a row, I will join colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight the administration’s proposed budget cuts to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative,” Rep. Upton said on March 11. “We have fought tooth and nail to stop these cuts before.”
The administration wants to decrease funding by almost $270 million for the federal GLRI that is being overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect and restore the world’s largest system of fresh surface water.
“Protecting our natural resources, whether they be the Great Lakes, parks, or clean water, is a federal responsibility and priority,” said Rep. Upton. “You can expect a strong, bipartisan, Michigan-led effort to once again protect every penny of this critical program, and we will prevail.”
Rep. Joyce, ranking member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, said on Monday that he’s disappointed the administration’s FY 2020 budget request doesn’t treat the Great Lakes “as the natural treasure they are.”
“The Great Lakes system is one of the greatest natural resources and economic powerhouses in the United States,” said Rep. Joyce, noting that, “Unfortunately, I’ve had to fight for adequate resources for this important program ever since I got to Congress, as Presidents Obama and Trump have both proposed cuts to it in past budget requests.”
Rep. Joyce said far more federal funding is needed over the president’s proposed $30 million for the Great Lakes system, which provides more than 1.5 million jobs and 90 percent of the nation’s fresh water supply; supports 3,500 species of plants and animals; and generates $62 billion in yearly wages.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee and the Trump administration to properly fund the GLRI, address the threats facing the Great Lakes, and ensure that we make the necessary investments to protect them to the fullest extent possible,” said Rep. Joyce.
Sen. Portman echoed the congressmen’s sentiments and said that, “for the past few years, no matter whether it was a Republican or Democratic-led administration, there have been attempts to cut or eliminate funding” for the GLRI.
“And every year, we have successfully defeated those efforts and ensured that this critical program receives full funding,” said Sen. Portman, co-chairman of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force.
The GLRI, he said, has been a successful public-private partnership and a vital tool in the nation’s efforts to help protect and restore Lake Erie, among others.
“I have long championed this program and I will continue to do everything I can to protect and preserve Lake Erie, including preserving this critical program and its funding,” Sen. Portman said.
“Putting funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative on the chopping block is a terrible idea and will not stand,” added Rep. Upton.