Key Takeaways
- •Sen. Husted (R-OH) advocated for the reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect a $6 trillion regional economy and drinking water for 40 million people.
- •Mary Mertz (Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources) detailed how GLRI funds rebuilt Maumee River islands to filter phosphorus and combat toxic algal blooms threatening Lake Erie.
- •Sen. Husted (R-OH) and Christopher Winslow (Director, Ohio Sea Grant Program, Ohio State University) discussed how applied research translates academic data into effective local strategies for managing invasive species.
- •Sen. Whitehouse (D-RI) supported the initiative but argued that saltwater coastal ecosystems are underfunded compared to inland areas, proposing offshore wind leases as a new funding source.
- •The committee is considering S. 528 to reauthorize the GLRI before its September expiration, ensuring continued multi-agency coordination to address legacy pollution and emerging threats like microplastics.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This hearing focused on the effectiveness and future of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) as Congress considers its reauthorization through the GLRI Act of 2025 (S. 528). Witnesses and lawmakers discussed the initiative's role in addressing critical environmental threats—including harmful algal blooms, invasive species, and habitat degradation—while supporting a regional economy valued at $6 trillion. The discussion emphasized the necessity of multi-agency coordination and the integration of federal, state, and academic resources to protect a system that provides drinking water to 40 million people.
Key Testimony & Policy
The primary policy focus was the reauthorization of the GLRI, a non-regulatory program established in 2015 and currently led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mary Mertz, Director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), testified on the success of combining federal GLRI funds with state-level initiatives like Ohio’s H2Ohio program. She highlighted the Clark and Delaware Horseshoe Islands project in the Maumee River, which used $5.5 million in GLRI funds and $8 million in state funds to rebuild islands that filter phosphorus and reduce the runoff fueling harmful algal blooms (HABs). Mertz also detailed efforts to block invasive carp through physical barriers and targeted removals, noting that GLRI funds have been instrumental in severing waterway connections that could allow carp to enter Lake Erie.
Dr. Christopher Winslow, Director of the Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory at The Ohio State University (OSU), emphasized the "systems approach" of the GLRI. He noted that the initiative targets 26 "Areas of Concern" (AOCs) across the Great Lakes, eight of which have been successfully delisted following remediation. Winslow highlighted that GLRI-supported research has led to an 8% reduction in nutrient loads in certain areas by helping farmers adopt precision agriculture practices. He argued that the program’s success stems from its ability to translate applied research into "boots on the ground" action, such as improving wetland designs to maximize phosphorus absorption.
Dr. Holly Bamford, Chief Conservation Officer for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), provided a broader perspective on the initiative’s implementation. NFWF has awarded $140 million across 530 projects over 20 years, including the restoration of Mentor Marsh in Ohio and coastal wetlands in Michigan’s St. Clair Flats. Bamford also discussed the National Coastal Resilience Fund, a program created in 2018 to provide nature-based infrastructure to protect coastal communities from flooding. She noted that while the fund is vital for both salt and freshwater coasts, it is severely oversubscribed, currently meeting less than 20% of the $3.8 billion in funding requests received.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
The hearing was largely bipartisan, with members from both parties expressing strong support for the Great Lakes. However, Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) raised concerns about a perceived federal bias toward "inland and upland" conservation at the expense of coastal regions. He criticized the Land and Water Conservation Fund for shortchanging oceans and coasts and advocated for his proposal to fund the National Coastal Resilience Fund through offshore wind leases, similar to how offshore drilling leases fund inland conservation.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) questioned the complexity of the GLRI Interagency Task Force, which involves 16 federal agencies. She asked whether this structure leads to competing interests or diffused effectiveness. Director Mertz responded that while the relationship with the EPA’s Great Lakes National Program Office is strong, there is a need for greater transparency in how funds are allocated among the various agencies to ensure state and federal planning remain complementary.
Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), the lead sponsor of S. 528, focused on the intersection of environmental health and economic stability. He engaged witnesses on the specific threat of invasive species, particularly Asian carp, and the importance of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam project. Husted emphasized that the Great Lakes fishery is a $5 billion industry that depends entirely on the vigilance provided by GLRI-funded monitoring and prevention programs.
Organizations Mentioned
* **Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):** The lead agency for the GLRI, responsible for administration and chairing the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force. * **National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF):** A key implementing partner that administers competitive grants for GLRI and the National Coastal Resilience Fund. * **The Ohio State University (OSU):** Conducts applied research through the Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory to monitor water quality and evaluate the ROI of restoration projects. * **United States Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps):** Partnered with states on infrastructure projects to block invasive carp and rebuild island habitats. * **Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR):** Manages state-level restoration efforts and coordinates with federal agencies on fisheries and habitat management. * **National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):** Provides funding and technical support for coastal resilience and the Ohio Sea Grant program. * **United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):** Works with the GLRI to provide technical assistance and subsidies to farmers for reducing nutrient runoff. * **Ducks Unlimited:** A nonprofit recipient of GLRI grants used to restore hundreds of acres of coastal wetlands for waterfowl and local economies.
What's Next
The current authorization for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is set to expire at the end of September 2026. The committee is moving forward with S. 528, the GLRI Act of 2025, to ensure continued funding. Chair Capito set a deadline of April 29, 2026, for members to submit written questions for the record, with witness responses due by May 13, 2026. Future discussions are expected to focus on the specific funding levels for the National Coastal Resilience Fund and the progress of the Brandon Road carp barrier project.
Transcript
Good morning everybody. It's nice to be here. It's a busy day on Capitol Hill. So we'll have members coming in and out. And so thank you all for being here. Very much appreciate it. We're going to discuss a priority of Senator Husted's who should be here in a few minutes. The value of federal efforts to restore the Great Lakes. And I mentioned I don't have the Great Lakes in my state, but we have a lot of great lakes. The health of the Great Lakes is important to achieving our nation's environmental public health and economic goals. Together the five lakes make up the largest system of freshwater in the world and are critical habitat for countless species. They also provide clean drinking water to millions of people in the United States and in Canada. The region and the country's economy significantly benefit from the use of the Great Lakes to transport goods, the reliable supply of water for industrial and agricultural purposes, and opportunities for tourism and recreational activities. These broad benefits are directly enhanced from efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes. Great Lakes restoration efforts have been underway for decades. And President Bush first established the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force by executive order in 2004. Restoration efforts are implemented through various federal, state, local, and private organizations as well as through cooperative efforts with Canada. One of those key programs is the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative or GLRI. Congress created the GLRI in 2015 as a non-regulatory program to carry out restoration projects that may include ecosystem and habitat restoration, water quality improvement, education and research, and local capacity building. The GLRI seeks to achieve these outcomes by minimizing and mitigating toxic substances, invasive species, and non-point source pollution as well as improving habitat and species management and laying the foundation for future restoration efforts. The Environmental Protection Agency leads the implementation administration of the GLRI program and chairs the Great Lakes Interagency Task Force, which is made up of 16 different federal agencies. Importantly, the 16 federal GLRI agencies work closely with the eight Great Lakes states, 35 Great Lakes tribes, local governments, universities, and private partners to work on to advance long-term restoration goals. The current authorization for the GLRI is set to expire at the end of September. Senator Husted and Senator Peters introduced S. 528, the GLRI Act of 2025 to reauthorize this program. As the EPW Committee considers this legislation, this hearing is an opportunity to hear from stakeholders about what's been working well, how the initiative has protected the environment, natural resources, and public health as well as enabled economic development in the region. Today's witnesses can provide insights on opportunities to improve the initiative to ensure that federal resources are utilized for the most meaningful purposes. I look forward to learning about how the federal government partners with state and local governments who best understand how to prioritize and address the needs in their own backyards. So with that, I will now recognize Senator Whitehouse for his opening statement.
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