Durbin: Congress Agrees to Fund Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at 300 Million

Statement

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the inclusion of $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 will support ongoing efforts to protect the Great Lakes including: combating invasive species, particularly Asian Carp; reducing and removing pollution, waste run-off and toxic chemicals; and restoring wetlands and other lakefront assets. The bill, which was introduced in the House late last night, must now be voted on by both the House and Senate and signed into law by President Obama.

"In Illinois, we treasure Lake Michigan -- from the drinking water it provides to millions of people, to the commerce and tourism it brings to the Chicago area," said Durbin. "Today's bill will provide adequate funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to take on projects -- like the Waukegan Harbor cleanup completed last year -- and continue working to protect the lakes for generations to come."

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