GLRI Act of 2025
Introduced February 11, 2025 · Last action April 15, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by appropriating $500 million per fiscal year from 2027 through 2031 for restoration projects. The bill extends federal funding for environmental cleanup and restoration work in the Great Lakes region that would otherwise expire or lack explicit statutory authorization at this funding level.
Who benefits
Great Lakes states (Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania) and their environmental agencies; water infrastructure contractors and engineering firms bidding on restoration projects; cities and municipalities relying on Great Lakes water supplies; commercial and recreational fishing industries; shipping and port operations in the Great Lakes; conservation and environmental nonprofits involved in restoration work; Native American tribes with Great Lakes resources and treaty rights.
Who pays / loses
All federal taxpayers bear the cost of the $2.5 billion total appropriation ($500M × 5 years). Competing federal programs and priorities that do not receive equivalent funding increases due to budget constraints.
Fiscal note: $500,000,000 per fiscal year for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 (total $2.5 billion over five years)
Funding & Lobbying Interests
Environmental contractors, engineering firms, and dredging companies that perform Great Lakes restoration work lobby for reauthorization. Water utilities in Great Lakes states benefit from improved water quality and infrastructure. Commercial fishing operations and tourism industries dependent on lake health have stakes in funding continuation. Conservation groups including The Nature Conservancy, American Rivers, and Audubon Society advocate for program reauthorization. The bill's bipartisan sponsorship (13 senators from Great Lakes and nearby states) reflects regional economic interest in lake restoration.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
Approximately 30 million people live in the Great Lakes basin across eight U.S. states and Ontario, Canada. Direct impacts: state environmental agencies (8 states), water utilities serving 7+ million people reliant on Great Lakes as primary water source, commercial fishing operations (estimated $7+ billion annual economic output in region), maritime shipping (200+ million tons annually through Great Lakes ports), and recreational fishing and tourism sectors (estimated $16+ billion annual regional economic activity). Great Lakes tribes including Anishinaabek nations with reserved treaty harvest rights and cultural dependencies on lake resources.
Political Subtext
Proponents argue the Great Lakes face ongoing invasive species, pollution from industrial legacy sites, agricultural runoff, and climate-induced changes requiring sustained federal investment to protect drinking water, fisheries, and regional economy. They emphasize bipartisan support and that the initiative has generated documented environmental improvements and economic returns on investment. Critics from fiscal hawks argue any new $2.5 billion appropriation requires offsetting cuts elsewhere or adds to deficits, and may question whether prior GLRI spending achieved sufficient measurable results to justify renewal. Non-partisan evaluation: The Congressional Research Service has documented GLRI projects addressing measurable water quality and habitat issues, though independent cost-benefit analyses of the full program portfolio are limited. The program enjoys consistent bipartisan regional support suggesting recognition of tangible regional benefits.
Real-World Stakes
If passed: $2.5 billion flows to Great Lakes restoration projects from 2027–2031, funding invasive species control (zebra mussels, Asian carp), remediation of contaminated sediments, wetland restoration, stream habitat recovery, and water quality monitoring. Historical precedent: The original Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (created via Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002 and expanded 2009) has funded over 3,500 projects across eight states; documented outcomes include removal of contaminated sediments at 17 major sites, restoration of over 25,000 acres of coastal wetlands, and control operations for invasive species affecting $1+ billion annual commercial and recreational fishing sector. If not reauthorized: Gap in funding between current authorization expiration and 2027 would halt or delay ongoing projects, potentially allowing invasive species populations to expand and contaminated sites to remain unaddressed, affecting drinking water quality and economic productivity of dependent industries.
Sponsor
Sponsor information not available.
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
No campaign finance data available yet.
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
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