U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Mike Kelly (R-PA) on April 9 applauded a plan by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to utilize an additional $20 million appropriated by Congress for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).
“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has established an effective record of protecting, preserving, and strengthening the Great Lakes for future generations,” said Rep. Huizenga, co-chair of the congressional House Great Lakes Task Force. “This announcement will build on that success by enhancing efforts to clean up legacy pollution, prevent the spread of invasive species, and restore critical habitats in west Michigan and communities across the Great Lakes Basin.”
Rep. Kelly added that he’s proud to support ongoing efforts to preserve and restore the Great Lakes, which he said are among America’s most valuable natural resources.
“Lake Erie is part of western Pennsylvania’s identity and provides us with numerous economic and recreational opportunities, so I thank the Trump administration and the EPA for their continued commitment to keeping the Great Lakes great for future generations,” Rep. Kelly said last week.
Specifically, the EPA’s newly announced plan for using the additional funding will further efforts that address ongoing challenges impacting the Great Lakes, including Areas of Concern (AOCs), invasive species control and prevention, excess nutrients, and habitat restoration.
“With the additional $20 million, we will be able to target many harder-to-solve challenge areas,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said on April 9 in announcing the plan.
The EPA will use $7.5 million to accelerate the cleanup and restoration of Great Lakes AOCs; $5 million to fund research and development of Ballast Water Treatment Systems; $5 million to support Great Lakes states activities to reduce excess nutrient loads, restore habitat, and control and prevent invasive species; $2 million to support the Great Lakes Trash Free Waters Grant Program; and $500,000 toward Great Lakes National Program Office operations.
Reps. Kelly and Huizenga long have supported bolstering the GLRI and in February helped champion passage by their chamber of the bipartisan GLRI Act of 2019, H.R. 4031, which would reauthorize the GLRI for five years and increase funding. The measure was received on Feb. 10 in the U.S. Senate, which is considering the same-named S. 2295.