Great Lakes Governors Call for Continued Support of GLRI

The Council of Great Lakes Governors recently called on Congress to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) beyond FY 2026 and support the introduction by Senators Young and Peters and the co-sponsorship by Senators Klobuchar, Moreno, Baldwin, Husted, Durbin, Smith, Gillibrand, Fetterman, Slotkin, Schumer, and Duckworth of legislation to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative from 2027-2031.  

The Great Lakes Governors have provided an important leadership role on Great Lakes restoration and protection. In 2003, the Great Lakes Governors came together to identify nine priorities for Great Lakes restoration and protection, which served as the organizing principle of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy for restoring and protecting the Great Lakes. The Strategy in turn served as the impetus for the GLRI which each of the Great Lakes States have used to advance these priorities. Together, the Great Lakes States have made significant progress through the GLRI. It is only with sustained, consistent funding that our region can build on past achievements and ensure the long-term success of protecting and restoring the Great Lakes.