In drafting and approving a budget to fund the federal government through September, the House and Senate voted to maintain funding for key Great Lakes programs that were previously targeted for cuts by the Trump Administration’s 2018 budget.
Specifically, three initiatives that were threatened have been preserved under the current budget. These include: $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which supports the cleanup of toxic pollution, the restoration of wildlife habitat, the management of invasive species, and the prevention of runoff from cities and farms; $1.39 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps communities repair and update water infrastructure; and $863 million for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which also assists communities with water infrastructure.
Although the current budget maintains Great Lakes funding, it does not ensure funding under the Trump Administration’s 2018 budget, which proposes severely downsizing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
