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Congressman Kildee Supports Increased Funding to Protect Great Lakes

July 24, 2020

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded the passage of legislation that would increase funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to help protect the Great Lakes.

H.R. 7608, the State, Foreign Operations, Agriculture, Rural Development, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, includes $335 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), representing a year-over-year increase. The GLRI, supported by Republicans and Democrats in Congress, builds on continued efforts by Congressman Kildee to protect the Great Lakes from harmful algal blooms, combat invasive species like Asian carp and restore wetlands. Earlier this year, Congressman Kildee led a letter to the Appropriations Committee asking for increased funding for the GLRI.

"In Michigan, the Great Lakes are a critical part of our economy, environment and way of life. We must protect the Great Lakes from harm," said Congressman Kildee. "I am proud to see the U.S. House of Representatives come together to invest in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to support this vital program."

Congressman Kildee represents 118 miles of Lake Huron shoreline. Since his first term, Congressman Kildee has fought to fully fund protections for the Great Lakes. He has previously spoken out attempts by both Republican and Democratic administrations to cut the GLRI program. President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly tried to cut the GLRI program, but Congress has rejected his requests.

In February, the U.S. House of Representatives also passed Congressman Kildee's legislation to increase the authorization for GLRI to $475 million by 2024. Congress must both authorize (agree to spend) and appropriate (set aside money) spending levels for the GLRI program.

Since coming to Congress, Kildee has fought to protect our Great Lakes, including opposing a proposed Canadian nuclear waste storage facility that would have been located less than one mile from Lake Huron in Kincardine, Ontario. In June, Ontario Power Generation announced that it would abandon plans to build this permanent nuclear waste storage and seek an alternative location.