House Committee Advances Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Reauthorization

Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition
Contact: Lindsey Bacigal, BacigalL@nwf.org, 734-887-7113

House Committee Advances Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Reauthorization

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (December 18, 2025)—This morning, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced the American Water Stewardship Act (H.R. 6422), a legislative package that included a 5-year reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition applauds this important step in the legislative process, a major milestone in ensuring continued federal investment in protecting and restoring the Great Lakes, the source of drinking water for more than 30 million people.

The bipartisan legislation, which passed with overwhelming support, reauthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) for an additional five years.

"We thank Representatives Pete Stauber (MN-8) and Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-8) for their bipartisan leadership and commitment to advancing this bill," said Laura Rubin, director of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. "The GLRI has proven to be one of the most successful environmental restoration programs in our nation's history, but serious threats remain and we cannot slow down on our progress in addressing challenges to our vital water resources.”

“We look forward to working with our House and Senate Great Lakes delegation in the new year to ensure we pass a GLRI reauthorization as soon as possible.”

Since its establishment in 2010, the GLRI has invested more than $4 billion in over 8,000 projects across the eight-state Great Lakes region, addressing toxic pollution, invasive species, harmful algal blooms, and habitat loss. The program has accelerated the cleanup of the most polluted sites in the region—Areas of Concern—with seven sites delisted and 118 environmental impairments removed.

Economic analysis demonstrates that every dollar invested through the GLRI generates $3 in economic activity across the region, supporting industries from fishing and tourism to manufacturing and shipping.

The House and Senate will continue its consideration of legislation to reauthorize the GLRI in the new year.

Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has been harnessing the collective power of more than 200 groups representing millions of people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Learn more at HealthyLakes.org or follow us on social media @HealthyLakes.