Senate Advances Great Lakes Restoration Reauthorization

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

Senate Advances Great Lakes Restoration Reauthorization

ANN ARBOR, MICH. (September 30, 2026)—The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition applauds the Senate’s reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), a federal program integral to the health of the Great Lakes and the 30 million people who depend on them for drinking water. Reauthorization was passed by unanimous consent, showcasing the continued bipartisan support of the GLRI and the critical nature of the program’s restoration work across the region.

“Reauthorizing the GLRI is essential to maintaining the momentum we have built in restoring one of the nation’s most treasured natural resources,” said Laura Rubin, director, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “We are grateful for the leadership of the Great Lakes delegation for trying to advance this legislation, preventing interruption to the GLRI’s vital work.”

The GLRI has made massive improvements to the waters of the Great Lakes, from cleaning up toxic hotspots and restoring wetlands to combating invasive species and reducing harmful algal blooms. To date, the GLRI has provided funding for over 8,000 restoration projects; cleaned up eight of the most polluted sites in the region; and enhanced, protected, and restored nearly 530,000 acres of habitat.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act was introduced last year by Sens. Peters (D-MI, Great Lakes Task Force Co-chair), Young (R-IN), Moreno (R-OH, Great Lakes Task Force Co-chair), Husted (R-OH), Baldwin (D-WI), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Fetterman (D-PA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Klobuchar (D-MN), Schumer (D-NY), Slotkin (D-MI), and Smith (D-MN).

The legislation now goes to the House for consideration. The Coalition looks forward to Congress reauthorizing this bill before the end of the 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