Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2022

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5973, a bill sponsored by our colleague, Representative Debbie Dingell from Michigan, to reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

Under the authorities provided by this law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed six common Great Lakes fish and wildlife restoration goals in collaboration with State and local partners. To date, 81 fish and wildlife restoration grant projects have been funded through this cooperative effort.

This law has been reauthorized three times, most recently in 2016. The bill we are considering today would extend these authorities until 2027 without increasing funding authorization.

We appreciate Congresswoman Dingell's commitment not to move this bill until the Fish and Wildlife Service provided a mandatory report to Congress. In late March, we finally received this report, which allowed us to evaluate the current program and its progress toward meeting its goals.

I commend Congresswoman Dingell for her leadership on this legislation, and I urge adoption of the measure.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source