Key Senate Committee Passes Brown’s Bill to Extend Great Lakes Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown's (D-OH) bipartisan Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2024 which would continue the mission to keep the Great Lakes healthy for businesses and families by cleaning up and preventing pollution, and protecting coastline. The legislation will help ensure clean drinking water for Ohioans by protecting coastline and habitats and preventing future contaminations while stopping the spread of invasive species and cleaning up environmentally damaged "Areas of Concern." The bill would extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) for another five years through 2031, and increases annual investment levels. The bill now heads to the full Senate for a vote.

"This is an important step forward to keep Lake Erie healthy for the 11 million people it provides drinking water to and the Ohio businesses, families, boaters, and anglers who rely on the lake," said Brown. "The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is one of our most successful environmental efforts, it's vital to Ohio's economy, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it's more effective than ever. I will continue to work to get this bill to the President's desk to protect Lake Erie and its tributaries for today and for the next generation."

For years, Brown has fought to secure important wins for Lake Erie through his longtime support for conservation and clean water programs and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Brownsecured a significant investment for the GLRI in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed into law in 2021.

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