Lawmakers hope to extend, increase Great Lakes funding

Joe LaFurgey
·1 min read
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in Washington have started a push to keep funding for the Great Lakes flowing.

The Great Lakes Task Force, a bipartisan group, is hoping to see an increase in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The initiative, which is currently set to end in 2026, helps address a range of issues impacting the Great Lakes, from PFAS to Asian carp.

U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, co-chairs the House Great Lakes Task Force. He says now is the time to start the reauthorization effort.

According to Huizenga, one of the biggest challenges is educating other members of Congress about the importance of the Great Lakes.

“Frankly, there’s a lot of our colleagues from the middle part of our country or from either coast that don’t really understand what the Great Lakes is about and how important it is — to our ecology, but our economy as well,” Huizenga said. “It is trillions of dollars of impact that we have with the trade that’s on the lakes, the wages that are tied to the Great Lakes. It’s really significant, not just for us in the region but for the entire country.”

Huizenga and other supporters hope to get an increase in the funds from the current $475 million a year to $500 million annually.

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