Sponsors (2)
The bill directs modest federal funding and matching grants to improve Great Lakes conservation, access, and water quality—leveraging local investment and boosting recreation and local economies—but imposes a small federal cost and risks leaving low‑resource communities unable to compete for grants.
Residents, tourists, and local businesses around the Great Lakes will gain new and improved conservation and restoration projects that boost recreation, tourism, and local economies.
Urban and rural communities will get expanded public access and connected watertrails/sites through a Great Lakes Gateways Network, increasing outdoor recreation and education opportunities.
Communities across the Great Lakes watershed will receive federal technical and financial assistance that can improve water quality and habitat through targeted conservation and restoration projects.
Taxpayers will fund an estimated $6 million per year from FY2026–2031 to support the program, increasing federal spending obligations.
Smaller, rural, or low‑resource local governments and community nonprofits may be unable to provide the required non‑Federal match, limiting their ability to receive grants and benefit from the program.
Administrative caps and grant review practices may advantage organizations with grant-writing capacity, disadvantaging informal community groups and those lacking expertise or staff to compete.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Great Lakes Gateways Network and a grants program (federal share ≤50%, 10% admin cap) to conserve, restore, and interpret Great Lakes resources, authorized $6M/year FY2026–2031.
Introduced February 6, 2025 by Marcia Carolyn Kaptur · Last progress February 6, 2025
Creates a Great Lakes Gateways Network of sites and watertrails and sets up a federal grants program to help identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources across the Great Lakes watershed. The Department of the Interior, working with the EPA and other partners, will provide technical and financial assistance and issue grants that cover up to 50% of project costs (with required non‑Federal matches), limit administrative costs to 10% of eligible costs, and are supported by an authorization of $6 million per year for FY2026–FY2031.