Sponsors (13)
The bill secures predictable, multi-year funding to improve Great Lakes water quality and support local restoration jobs, at the cost of $2.5 billion in federal spending and risks of appropriation delays and reduced funds for other priorities.
Local governments and Great Lakes communities receive a predictable $500 million per year (FY2027–FY2031) for restoration, enabling multi-year planning and project implementation.
Residents near the Great Lakes are likely to see improved water quality and healthier ecosystems from increased restoration projects funded by the EPA.
Stable, multi-year funding supports environmental restoration and monitoring work, creating local jobs and sustained economic activity tied to restoration projects.
Projects authorized could be delayed or disrupted if Congress does not appropriate the authorized funds, creating planning and implementation uncertainty for grantees.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending of roughly $2.5 billion over five years to fund the program.
Concentrating new federal restoration dollars on the Great Lakes could reduce funding available for other water infrastructure or environmental priorities elsewhere.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes $500 million per year for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for each fiscal year 2027–2031.
Authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to receive $500 million per year for five fiscal years (FY2027–FY2031) for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The change amends existing federal water pollution control law to set a five‑year annual authorization level for GLRI funding. The statute is an authorization measure only: it establishes the authorized funding amounts and timing but does not itself appropriate money. The EPA, state agencies, local governments, tribes, nonprofit partners, and communities around the Great Lakes are the primary users and beneficiaries of the program funds once appropriations follow the authorization.
Official title: Reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 11, 2025 by Gary C. Peters · Last progress October 5, 2026