WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of senators from the Great Lakes region have introduced a federal bill designed to help with lake cleanup efforts.

The Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act (GLEEPA) is designed to help communities combat invasive species such as Asian carp, speed cleanup of contaminated sediment from old industrial sites, reduce fertilizer runoff from farms, protect wildlife habitat and improve overall water quality.

According to a statement from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), the legislation would generate $80 billion-$100 billion in economic benefits for the region. Baldwin, along with Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), introduced the legislation on Feb. 12.

“The Great Lakes are a critical asset for our quality of life in Wisconsin and our state’s economy depends on them for shipping, tourism and fresh drinking water,” Baldwin said. “The Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act will help our communities clean up their shorelines, redevelop old industrial sites and restore fish habitat to make the Great Lakes healthier for everyone who uses them and to drive economic redevelopment in our towns and cities.

“Our coastal communities know there is more work that needs to be done and this legislation will help ensure that our Great Lakes are protected and preserved for generations to come.”

The legislation is described as bipartisan, even though only one Republican, Kirk, is supporting the bill so far. “As co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, I remain committed to working with my colleagues to clean up toxic hot spots, end sewage dumping, remove the threat of invasive species and ensure the Great Lakes remain a safe source of drinking water for more than 30 million Americans,” he said.

“I am pleased to work with Senator Baldwin to reintroduce the bipartisan bill which (former) Senator (Carl, D-Mich.) Levin and I authored last year in order to tackle the lakes’ most pressing environmental challenges.”

Stabenow, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, added it is “our responsibility to protect and preserve the Great Lakes. With the Great Lakes facing numerous threats from invasive species like Asian carp and water contamination, there must be a larger commitment to protect our lakes for years to come.

“Michigan’s economy relies on the Great Lakes’ multibillion-dollar fishing, boating and tourism industries, and this bill will help protect those jobs and our Michigan way of life.”

Among other things, GLEEPA is supposed to improve the coordination of different federal efforts to clean up the Great Lakes. The bill would explicitly authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), an interagency program that addresses the biggest problems in the lakes ecosystem. Right now GLRI is not a program explicitly authorized by name in any law.

Earlier this year U.S. Rep. David Joyce, a Republican from Ohio, introduced similar legislation in the House. He also introduced virtually the same legislation last year. The main difference between Joyce’s bill and GLEEPA is the latter would authorize more money for projects and fund some projects that aren’t necessarily considered GLRI, according to Todd Ambs, director of Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

GLRI funds have been used to double the acreage enrolled in agricultural conservation programs in watersheds where phosphorus runoff contributes to harmful algal blooms in western Lake Erie, Saginaw Bay and Green Bay. GLRI funds have been used to finance more than 2,000 projects.

GLEEPA would continue to fund the Great Lakes Legacy program, which Joyce’s legislation would not do, according to Ambs. The goal of this program is to remove sediment from the bottoms of rivers and other waters that were polluted by industry in the past.