The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to get full funding
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is keeping its full $300 million in funding for 2017, but the real funding challenge comes in 2018.
Full 2017 funding was included in the bipartisan bill approved April 30 to keep the federal government running through September.
President Donald Trump’s administration had previously suggested cutting the program’s 2017 budget by $50 million to help cover costs of a border wall with Mexico.
In his fiscal year 2018 budget proposal released in March, Trump calls for slashing the program’s federal funding entirely. That proposal has been met with bipartisan resistance in Great Lakes states.
In March, U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Russell Township, called the proposed zeroing of the funding of a program that protects drinking water
for more than 30 million people “hard to comprehend.”
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, called the proposal was reckless.
Joyce said May 1 the full 2017 funding good news, but acknowledged that the bigger battle lies ahead.
Since it was approved in 2009, the GLRI has given more than $2 billion to the eight-state region for projects that have removed
toxic wastes from industrial harbors, fought invasive species such as Asian carp, restored wildlife habitat and supported efforts to prevent harmful algal blooms.
In announcing the initiative would receive full funding in 2017, Ohio’s two U.S. senators — Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Rob Portman — lauded the bipartisan support for the program.
“Investing in Lake Erie means investing in local jobs and ensuring clean drinking water for Ohio,” Brown said. “I’m proud to see Ohio Republicans and Democrats coming together to support our Great Lake and do what’s right for Ohio.”
Portman called Lake Erie critical to Ohio for tourism, the fishing industry and the drinking water of 3 million people in the state.
“The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been an effective public-private program protecting the lake from threats like harmful algae and invasive species like Asian carp,” Portman said.
“When the Obama administration tried to cut funding for this program, I fought that proposal at every turn until we fully funded it each year and then we extended the program for five years. I will continue to work with my bipartisan colleagues to protect this program in the future.”