WASHINGTON - This evening, the House of Representatives passed a critical piece of a broad Great Lakes restoration effort by approving S. 2430, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (GLFWRA), companion legislation to a bill introduced by Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) in the House of Representatives.  The bipartisan bill passed the House unanimously.  Kildee also led the efforts to double the GLFWRA’s overall authorization amount from $8 million over the next five fiscal years to $16 million. 

 “The passage of this bill is a big step towards preserving and restoring the Great Lakes heritage we all cherish,” Kildee said.  “The five Great Lakes are not only a natural marvel, but they critical to our economy, our environment and our way of life. Reauthorization of the GLFWRA with double the federal support is a positive step towards protecting the Lakes for future generations of Americans.”

The bill reauthorizes and improves a 1990 law providing for a research and conservation program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help address the increasing number of demands placed on the health of the Great Lakes from population and economic growth.  The bill authorizes $14 million for grants based on recommendations of Great Lakes states and tribes, regional fish and wildlife projects, and efforts to improve transparency by facilitating a public access website listing funding priorities and grant awards.  An additional $2 million is authorized for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Great Lakes Coordination and Fishery Resources Offices.

The Senate passed S. 2430 in July as companion legislation to H.R. 4953, a House bill sponsored by Congressman Kildee.  Kildee then took up the effort to move it quickly through the House this week so it can be signed into law before Congress adjourns for the November elections. 

Kildee’s bill is part of a broad strategy to restore the Great Lakes ecosystem known as the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration, comprised of more than 1,500 stakeholders. The bill implements some of the recommendations made by the collaboration and improves upon an existing law that has been proven effective.  Federal funding from the current law helped restore the walleye population in Saginaw Bay.

Unfortunately, the GLFWRA has been consistently underfunded by Congress and the Administration, despite the President’s support for increased federal funding for the Great Lakes.  Despite a current $8 million authorization, the program is annually allotted less than $1 million.

“Every day we wait, the deterioration of the Lakes gets worse and becomes more costly to solve.  Many in Washington talk a good game about a Great Lakes policy that preserves our region’s heritage for future generations.  It’s now time to back it up with real funding for a program that has shown real results.  The health of Michigan depends on the health of the Great Lakes”

The Great Lakes is the largest body of surface freshwater on the planet, comprising 95 percent of North America’s fresh water, 20 percent of the Earth’s fresh water, and the source of drinking water for 28 million Americans.  The region is home to more than one-tenth of the population of the U.S. and twenty-five percent of the Canadian population. There are thousands of different species of fish and wildlife and 130 globally endangered or rare plants and animal species that have been identified within the Great Lakes ecosystem.