The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition and over 60 of our member organizations urged House appropriations subcommittees to support robust funding for Great Lakes restoration and clean water priorities in their Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bills.

The Trump Administration released more details about how its proposed budget would undermine efforts by local, state, and Tribal governments to protect the drinking water, public health, and quality of life for more than 30 million people in the Great Lakes states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Progress to restore the Great Lakes and protect the drinking water for more than 40 million people would be severely undermined by the Trump Administration’s proposed budget, calling for drastic cuts to core environmental and clean water programs.

In early March, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition brought over 80 advocates from across the Great Lakes region to Washington, D.C. for Great Lakes Day—an annual event focused on the restoration and protection of the Great Lakes. The event gathered passionate environmental activists, local leaders, and concerned citizens who are committed to ensuring clean water and a sustainable future for the Great Lakes.

Great Lakes supporters are in Washington, D.C., with the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, to urge members of Congress to continue their support for federal investments to protect the drinking water, public health, jobs, and quality of life for the millions of people in the eight-state region.

Materials from Great Lakes Day 2025

The Coalition is seeking creative proposals for visits to restoration sites, businesses or communities benefiting directly from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition supports new bipartisan federal legislation to restore and protect the Great Lakes – the source of drinking water for more than 42 million people. The Senate legislation reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, allowing up to $500 million annually in support of restoration actions in the region.