Search Site   
Current News Stories
Solar eclipse, new moon coming April 8
Mystery illness affecting dairy cattle in Texas Panhandle
Teach others to live sustainably
Gun safety begins early
Hard-cooked eggs recipes great for Easter, anytime
Michigan carrot producers to vote on program continuation
Suggestions to celebrate 50th wedding anniversary
USDA finalizes new ‘Product of the USA’ labeling rule 
U.S. weather outlooks currently favoring early planting season
Weaver Popcorn Hybrids expanding and moving to new facility
Role of women in agriculture changing Hoosier dairy farmer says
   
News Articles
Search News  
   
Senate Appropriations re-ups Great Lakes restoration funds
 


WASHINGTON, D.C. — Stakeholders breathed a sigh of relief last month when the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) received its sought-after funding.

The U.S. Senate’s Appropriations Committee released its funding bill for the Department of the Interior, EPA and other related agencies on Nov. 21. It includes $300 million for the GLRI to clean up toxic pollution, reduce farm and urban runoff, control invasive species and restore fish and wildlife habitat.

The bill maintains funding at the same level as last fiscal year. In March the Trump administration had proposed eliminating funding for this program.

In addition, the legislation provides $1.394 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to help communities finance wastewater infrastructure. This is the same funding level as last fiscal year and is the same as what the administration proposed.

The legislation that came out of the committee also provided $864 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to help communities finance drinking water infrastructure, which is the same funding level as last fiscal year and is the same amount as the administration proposed.

Healing Our Waters Campaign Director Todd Ambs worries that although the GLRI is now being funded at the same level as last year, money that might be needed to help administer the program by partner agencies could see cuts.

“On the one hand, the Senate budget bill keeps Great Lakes restoration efforts on track and helps ensure that the federal government can continue to invest in projects that benefit the more than 30 million people who depend on the Great Lakes for their drinking water, jobs and way of life,” he explained.

“On the other hand, the bill cuts the budget for agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, that administer Great Lakes restoration programs and includes provisions that erode core environmental protections, like the Clean Water Act – actions that can undermine restoration efforts. That is the wrong tack to take, because serious threats remain and our work is not done if we want to fully restore the lakes and protect our drinking water, public health, jobs and way of life.”

As far back as March a number of senators expressed their commitment to retain funding levels for the GLRI, including Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who described the Great Lakes as an “invaluable resource” to his state.

“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been a successful public-private partnership that helps protect both our environment and our economy,” he said last March.

He added that the GLRI generates a total of more than $80 billion in benefits in health, tourism, fishing and recreation. According to a March statement from the senator, Portman led efforts to fully fund the GLRI after the Trump administration proposed eliminating it.

According to Healing Our Waters last week, “Funding for the GLRI, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund are currently set at FY17 levels. If Congress is able to avoid a shutdown this week, a final decision on the full FY18 budget could come before Dec. 22.

“With so many details to work out, including baseline budget numbers for defense and non-defense discretionary spending, a final budget for FY18 may not come until after the new year.”

Other senators who strongly supported GLRI funding included Democrats Debbie Stabenow, Amy Klobuchar, Sherrod Brown, Richard Durbin, Tammy Baldwin, Robert Casey, Al Franken, Joe Donnelly, Kirsten Gillibrand, Gary Peters and Tammy Duckworth.

12/13/2017