Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Gary Peters have introduced the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025, aiming to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) through 2031. The initiative seeks to protect and preserve the Great Lakes by addressing various environmental challenges.

The GLRI is a collaborative effort involving federal and nonfederal entities to combat invasive species like carp, restore coastlines and habitats, clean up environmentally damaged areas, and prevent future contamination. Senator Young emphasized the importance of this program for Indiana's ecosystem and economy, stating that it addresses serious threats such as toxic substances, pollution, debris, and invasive species.

Senator Peters highlighted the significance of the Great Lakes to Michigan's economy and environment. He noted that since its inception, the GLRI has made considerable progress in cleaning up Areas of Concern and restoring coastlines around the Great Lakes Basin.

The initiative has led to substantial improvements in the region, including protecting nearly half a million acres of habitat, increasing successful cleanups of Areas of Concern five-fold, enhancing remediation efforts ten-fold, and reducing harmful algal blooms. Economically, it has delivered returns exceeding three-to-one across the region.

The legislation is co-sponsored by several senators from both parties. Joel Brammeier from the Alliance for the Great Lakes praised Senators Peters and Young for their efforts in introducing this bill. Erika Jensen from the Great Lakes Commission also commended their leadership in safeguarding economic and environmental health.

Laura Rubin from Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition expressed gratitude for bipartisan leadership on this issue while highlighting ongoing threats to drinking water, public health, jobs, and quality of life in the region. Peter Laing from Great Lakes Business Network noted that investments in clean water provide lasting benefits for communities across the region.

The proposed act enjoys broad support from numerous organizations advocating for conservation efforts related to these vital waterways.