[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H799-H805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE ACT OF 2019

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 4031) to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act 
to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4031

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Great Lakes Restoration 
     Initiative Act of 2019'' or the ``GLRI Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE REAUTHORIZATION.

       Section 118(c)(7)(J)(i) of the Federal Water Pollution 
     Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1268(c)(7)(J)(i)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``is authorized'' and inserting ``are 
     authorized'';
       (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (3) by striking ``this paragraph $300,000,000'' and 
     inserting the following: ``this paragraph--

       ``(I) $300,000,000''; and

       (4) by adding at the end the following:

       ``(II) $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
       ``(III) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;
       ``(IV) $425,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;
       ``(V) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
       ``(VI) $475,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Napolitano) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Mitchell) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4031.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 4031 would reauthorize Federal appropriations for EPA's Great 
Lakes Restoration Initiative.
  Introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce), H.R. 4031 
authorizes total appropriations of approximately $2.5 billion over the 
next 5 years for restoration efforts under EPA's GLRI program. The wide 
support for this bipartisan program is evidenced by the diversity of 
cosponsors of the bill, including many of the committee members, such 
as Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Carson, Mr. Katko, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Gallagher, and 
Mr. Stauber.
  The Great Lakes region encompasses eight different States and is home 
to more than 30 million people. These

[[Page H800]]

waters are a national treasure and contain 84 percent of the fresh 
water of all North America.
  As a Representative of a State where the availability of water is 
always, always an issue, I recognize why the Great Lakes Members are so 
devoted to protecting the water supply. So are we. Congress needs to 
renew its commitment to these types of programs which protect and 
restore our Nation's water.
  We all know the current challenges facing our States to protect our 
water resource, including harmful effects of algal blooms. Many of our 
States are dealing with these challenges as we speak, and the Great 
Lakes are no exception. One such bloom in 2014 forced a drinking water 
ban that affected half a million people.
  The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been a critical tool for 
EPA and Great Lakes States to address ongoing challenges on local water 
quality, including algal blooms. So H.R. 4031 is necessary to support 
these efforts.
  I urge all Members to support this very bipartisan bill to continue 
efforts for rehab on our precious Great Lakes.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record letters of support from: 
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, the National Audubon Society, and 
Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition.

                                Backcountry Hunters & Anglers,

                                 Missoula, MT, September 18, 2019.
     Hon. Peter DeFazio,
     Chairman, House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Sam Graves,
     Ranking Member, House Transportation & Infrastructure 
         Committee, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman DeFazio and Ranking Member Graves: On behalf 
     of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), the fastest growing 
     organization that represents sportsmen and women in North 
     America, I encourage you to support House Transportation & 
     Infrastructure Committee and floor passage of Rep. Elaine 
     Luria's (D-VA) Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act 
     (H.R. 1620) and Rep. David Joyce's (R-OH) Great Lakes 
     Restoration Initiative Act (H.R. 4031).
       Over the last decade the health of the Bay's ecosystem has 
     improved. However, with increased rainfall in the region and 
     the amount of sediment, phosphorous, debris and nitrogen 
     eroding into the Chesapeake watershed, the water quality is 
     on the decline.
       H.R. 1620 reauthorizes an important conservation and 
     restoration program that safeguards the Chesapeake Bay 
     watershed and increases the funding level to $90 million for 
     fiscal year 2020 and grows by $500,000 each year until fiscal 
     year 2024. Lawmakers funded the Chesapeake Bay Program at $73 
     million annually for the past few years. The additional funds 
     will restore the health of the Bay and boost the regional 
     economy that depends on it for agricultural and outdoor 
     recreation opportunities.
       The second bill, H.R. 4031 reauthorizes funding to conserve 
     and restore the Great Lakes, the largest bodies of fresh 
     water in the world by incremental increases of $25 million 
     annually until fiscal year 2026. The Great Lakes Restoration 
     Initiative is a successful program that strategically targets 
     critical areas through multiple action plans and public 
     input. Increasing funds will furthermore expand fish and 
     habitat rehabilitation and implement collaborative projects 
     between federal, state and local stakeholders.
       The Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes programs provide 
     necessary federal investments that leverage state and local 
     dollars to improve water quality and fish and wildlife 
     habitat for Canada geese, speckled trout and other game 
     species. BHA believes H.R. 1620 and H.R. 4031 are essential 
     to the health of fish and wildlife and the general public who 
     depend on clean water for agriculture and municipal needs at 
     home.
       Thank you for the opportunity to express our support for 
     the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act and the Great 
     Lakes Restoration Initiative Act. We look forward to working 
     with you to advance the legislation through the House.
           Sincerely,

                                                 John W. Gale,

                                            Conservation Director,
     Backcountry Hunters & Anglers.
                                  ____



                                         Audubon, National and

                                       International Programs,

                                               September 18, 2019.
     Hon. Peter DeFazio,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Sam Graves,
     Ranking Member, Committee on Transportation and 
         Infrastructure, Washington, DC.
     Hon. Grace Napolitano,
     Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Bruce Westerman,
     Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
         Environment, Washington, DC.
       On behalf of the National Audubon Society's more than 1 
     million members, our mission is to protect birds and the 
     places they need for today and tomorrow. We write to offer 
     our support for the following bills related to important 
     coastal and water conservation issues that will be the 
     subject of the September 19, 2019 Markup before the Committee 
     on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.


        HR 4031--Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019

       The Great Lakes are home to 30 million people and 350 
     species of birds, but increasing challenges are on the 
     horizon for the world's largest body of freshwater. 
     Fluctuating water levels exacerbated by climate change, 
     invasive exotic species and excess nutrients are putting even 
     more stress on this ecosystem that is so important for birds 
     and people. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has helped 
     clean up toxic pollutants, protect wildlife by restoring 
     critical habitat, and help combat devastating invasive 
     species.
       HR 4031 would increase funding for conservation projects to 
     $475 million over five years, by increasing the Great Lakes 
     Restoration Initiative's authorization incrementally from 
     $300 million per year to $475 million per year.


               HR 1132--San Francisco Bay Restoration Act

       The San Francisco Bay Area, home to the Pacific Coast's 
     largest estuary, is also home to a rapidly growing population 
     of 8 million people, and provides for a host of social and 
     economic values through ports and industry, agriculture, 
     fisheries, archaeological and cultural sites, recreation, and 
     research. However, San Francisco Bay has lost 90% of its 
     tidal wetlands and more than 50% of its eelgrass and mudflat 
     habitat. Climate change exacerbates these conditions through 
     drought that alters the salinity balance, ocean acidification 
     that reduces species abundance and diversity, increasing 
     water temperatures, and rising seas causing flooding that 
     eliminates living shorelines and puts communities at risk. 
     Many species of waterbirds forage in the San Francisco Bay, 
     including Brant Geese and Surf Scoters, underscoring the 
     value of this ecosystem.
       HR 1132 would authorize a San Francisco Bay Restoration 
     Grant Program in EPA and funding of up to $25m per year to 
     support the restoration of this estuary.


          HR 1620--Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act

       Salt marshes are special places to birds and other 
     wildlife, but sea level rise has elevated the waters in the 
     Chesapeake Bay by one foot during the 20th century and is 
     accelerating due to climate change. Salt marshes provide 
     valuable ``ecosystem services'', including nurseries for the 
     Chesapeake Bay's commercially important fish, a buffer 
     protecting coastal communities against storm surge, a filter 
     that stops nutrient and sediment pollution from entering the 
     Bay, and a recreational resource attracting visitors who 
     contribute millions of dollars to local economies. Chesapeake 
     Bay's salt marshes host globally significant populations of 
     both Saltmarsh Sparrow and Black Rail.
       HR 1620 would increase the authorization of appropriations 
     for the Chesapeake Bay Program to more than $90m per year.


   HR 2247--Promoting United Government Efforts to Save Our Sound Act

       Despite significant investments in Puget Sound ecosystem 
     health by state, federal, tribal and local governments, 
     concerned members of the public, and conservation 
     organizations, progress towards ecosystem recovery targets 
     remains slow. The number of marine birds wintering in Puget 
     Sound has declined significantly in the last 30 years and 
     migratory, fisheating birds appear to be at the greatest 
     risk.
       HR 2247 would authorize up to $50 million in funding for 
     Puget Sound recovery. The PUGET SOS Act also aligns federal 
     agency expertise and resources, ensuring that federal 
     agencies are coordinated, setting goals, and holding each 
     other accountable will help increase their effectiveness and 
     provide a boost to Puget Sound recovery.


          HR 3779--Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act of 2019

       Pre-disaster planning can help communities adapt to the 
     changing flood patterns that threaten people and birds 
     species dependent on shoreline and riverine areas. These 
     changes have led to more frequent instances of ``nuisance 
     flooding,'' as well as catastrophic events. NOAA has found 
     that ``nuisance'' or ``sunny day'' flooding is up 300% to 
     900% than it was 50 years ago. In addition, catastrophic 
     flooding events have increased in both frequency and 
     intensity. These trends have been particularly pronounced in 
     the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains, where the 
     amount of precipitation in large rainfall events has 
     increased more than 30 percent above the average observed 
     from 1901-1960. As sea level rise accelerates, it only 
     exacerbates these impacts, which further compounds 
     vulnerability in flood-prone communities.
       HR 3779 would amend the 1988 Stafford Act to offer low-
     interest loans to states for ``disaster mitigation 
     projects'', including investments in natural infrastructure 
     projects, which would help communities prepare and recover 
     from natural disasters.
       We urge you to support and advance the bills listed above. 
     Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
           Sincerely,

                                           Julie Hill-Gabriel,

                               Vice President, Water Conservation,
                                         National Audubon Society.

[[Page H801]]

     
                                  ____
                    Healing Our Waters, Great Lakes Coalition,

                                                 December 3, 2019.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Pelosi: On behalf of the Healing Our Waters-
     Great Lakes Coalition, I write to urge the House of 
     Representatives to bring to the floor for consideration H.R. 
     4031, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019, 
     before the end of the year. The bill, which is led by Reps. 
     David Joyce and Marcy Kaptur, has broad bipartisan support 
     with 50 cosponsors almost evenly divided and was unanimously 
     supported in the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in 
     September. The Great Lakes define our region's way of life, 
     provide drinking water for over 30 million Americans, and is 
     at the heart of a binational economy that is the 3rd largest 
     in the world. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been 
     restoring these waters and protecting the health and well-
     being of those that rely on them.
       H.R. 4031 reauthorizes the successful Great Lakes 
     Restoration Initiative and helps meet the on-the-ground needs 
     of communities by increasing the annual authorization over 
     five years to $475 million. Over the past decade the GLRI has 
     improved lives across Great Lakes communities after decades 
     of environmental damage threatened public health, the 
     regional economy, and drinking water. The GLRI has allowed 
     the 8-state region to undertake one of the world's largest 
     freshwater ecosystem restoration projects. Since its 
     inception, the initiative has resulted in economic returns of 
     more than 3 to 1 across the region and made tremendous 
     progress. For example, the GLRI has:
       Tripled the delisting of areas with extreme degradation 
     (Areas of Concern or AOCs)
       Increased the remediation of environmental and public 
     health impairments nearly sevenfold
       Doubled farmland acres under conservation, reducing 
     nutrient and sediment runoff
       Invested in critical research and forecasting of toxic 
     algal blooms
       Controlled and stopped the advance of invasive species
       Restored habitat connectivity to over 5,250 river miles
       Even with these results, there is still much work to be 
     done. Two-thirds of beneficial use impairments remain 
     untreated across 19 AOCs, placing the health of communities 
     at risk. Drinking water and coastal economies remain under 
     threat from toxic algal blooms that have shut down entire 
     water systems, as was seen in Toledo, Ohio in 2014. Invasive 
     species, like Asian Carp, are knocking at the door of the 
     lakes and threaten its $7 billion fishery. Moreover, emerging 
     contaminants and a changing climate continue to exacerbate 
     the challenges we face, many of which disproportionately 
     impact people that have historically borne the brunt of 
     environmental injustice. This underscores the urgency for the 
     GLRI to address these growing threats by working to ensure 
     restoration investments lead to equitable outcomes for 
     everyone in the region.
       The GLRI has been an environmental and economic success, 
     but much work remains. The region stands ready to continue 
     this important federal partnership and ensure that all 
     benefit from and enjoy these investments in restoration and 
     protection.
       Since 2004, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition 
     has been harnessing the collective power of more than 160 
     non-governmental organizations representing millions of 
     people, whose common goal is to restore and protect the Great 
     Lakes. We are pleased to offer our support for this much-
     needed bill and urge House leadership to bring the bill to 
     the floor for a vote.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Laura Rubin,
                                                         Director.

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1400

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 4031. H.R. 4031 is a critical bill to 
reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, an initiative near 
and dear to my heart and the Great Lakes Caucus.
  The Great Lakes, as was noted, is the largest system of fresh surface 
water in the world. The GLRI, as it is known, has been a catalyst for 
unprecedented partnership between Federal, State, and local agencies 
for years to improve the ecosystem, to improve water quality, and to 
support the economy of the entire Great Lakes region and the Nation.
  H.R. 4031 has broad and bipartisan support with nearly 50 cosponsors, 
and I am proud to be one of those cosponsors. I thank our Members for 
continued support for the restoration of our Great Lakes. This issue is 
very important to my district and many other Members' districts in our 
Congress here.
  The Great Lakes have an incredible impact on our region's way of life 
that cannot be overstated. At one point in time when I was younger, we 
actually had a license plate that called Michigan the Water Wonderland 
because of the importance of the Great Lakes on our State.
  States all along the Great Lakes rely on them as a freshwater 
resource, a driver of our local and national economy, and a world-
renowned recreation destination. It impacts from Minnesota all the way 
to New York.
  In my home State of Michigan, we have the most Great Lakes shoreline 
of any State, with more than 3,000 miles of our State shaped by four of 
the five Great Lakes. My district is nearly surrounded by the Great 
Lakes system.
  The projects that the GLRI makes possible have a proven track record 
of success and impact in our communities.
  Take the Marysville shoreline in Michigan's 10th District, my home 
district, as an example. The GLRI provided the funds to remove a 
failing seawall and replace it with a natural, sloping shore.
  Additionally, further south of my district, the restoration of 
wetlands in the Harsens Island area provided habitat for waterfowl and 
fish that had been destroyed over the years.
  These projects resulted in the creation of jobs in the region, 
habitat restoration for wildlife, and a pathway for people to walk 
along the river or the lake, to view and enjoy it. This is one of the 
countless examples that highlights the importance of the GLRI for Great 
Lakes communities like mine and throughout the region.
  GLRI investments have delivered great outcomes, but there is more 
work to be done to protect our Great Lakes, including stopping the 
spread of invasive species, like Asian carp; protecting our drinking 
water, a critical and urgent need; and restoring habitat loss.
  I have advocated for GLRI since I arrived here and recently spoke 
with the President about the importance of the Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative. It is crucial that Congress continues to authorize this 
program that protects and restores the Great Lakes. It, like many other 
estuaries we have talked about today, is a national treasure that our 
country relies on for drinking water, commerce, and more.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4031 offers a chance to continue this support. I 
urge all of my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Garcia).
  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Joyce and Chairwoman Napolitano 
for their leadership on this matter. I rise today in support of the 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act to protect and improve the 
health of the Great Lakes and directly benefit the surrounding region.
  I hail from Chicago and the Nation's gold coast along Lake Michigan. 
We know how important a healthy Great Lakes system is. Lake Michigan is 
not only Chicago's primary drinking water source, it is part of the 
largest freshwater source in the world, our beloved Great Lakes. Lake 
Michigan is a tremendous recreational resource and economic asset for 
Chicago and the State of Illinois.
  Longstanding concerns, like the potential of Asian carp migrating 
into the lake, underscore the importance of advancing this important 
legislation.
  This bill will support many projects important to the region. Chicago 
public schools, for example, were able to install green infrastructure 
and new community space at four elementary schools. The project added 
1.2 million gallons of onsite stormwater storage capacity to reduce 
stormwater runoff throughout Chicago.
  In Beach Park, Illinois, a project helped stabilize and protect 
streambed habitat. This, in turn, reduced nutrient pollution, sediment 
runoff, and increased water quality in both Bull Creek and Lake 
Michigan.
  This bill will provide a much-needed increase in funding for the 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to support the continued restoration 
of coastal wetlands, the preservation of water quality, and the control 
of invasive species.
  H.R. 4031 will protect the Great Lakes for future generations. I urge 
my colleagues to support this legislation. I thank Chairwoman 
Napolitano and Representative Joyce for advancing this important 
measure.

[[Page H802]]

  

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Joyce).
  Mr. JOYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I 
rise today in support of my bill, the Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative Act of 2019.
  First, I thank Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and the 48 other Members 
from both sides of the aisle who cosponsored this important 
legislation. These Members come from each of the eight Great Lakes 
States, and they have been instrumental in advancing this bill to the 
House floor.
  I also thank my colleagues on the Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee who unanimously supported the GLRI Act of 2019 during its 
markup back in September.
  I cherish my memories growing up on the shores of Lake Erie, fishing 
and swimming with my family and friends. Everyone in this Chamber knows 
that I am not shy about my commitment to protect and restore the Great 
Lakes, for both current and future generations of Americans.
  The Great Lakes are a key economic driver for our Nation. More than 
1.5 million jobs are directly connected to the lakes, generating $62 
billion in wages annually. That is not to mention the fact that the 
Great Lakes Basin is home to more than 30 million people and that the 
lakes hold roughly 21 percent of the entire world's freshwater supply.
  That is why I was proud to introduce this bill to authorize this 
critically important Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for an 
additional 5 years and increase the program's annual authorized funding 
level, ensuring communities across the Great Lakes region, including 
those in my own district of northeast Ohio, can continue to address 
their on-the-ground needs.
  Through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, also known as GLRI, 
EPA coordinates its efforts with other Federal partners like the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as well 
as State agencies, local communities, and nonprofit organizations.
  GLRI projects have led to significant environmental benefits in the 
Great Lakes region since the program was created, helping restore more 
than 50,000 acres of coastal wetlands and reduce nutrient runoff that 
leads to harmful algal blooms like the one that shut down Toledo's 
water system in 2014, impacting hundreds of thousands of Ohioans.
  The program also provides for a wide range of economic benefits, like 
protecting the $7 billion Great Lakes fishery from invasive species 
like the Asian carp.
  In fact, a recent study showed that every dollar spent on GLRI 
projects through 2016 produces more than $3 in additional economic 
activity in the region. This means jobs and economic development in 
waterfront communities like Mentor, Ashtabula, and Conneaut, Ohio.
  Simply put, without the GLRI, critical environmental restoration 
activities and strong economic growth would never have happened. The 
bill is a great example of the progress we can make when we work 
together to address the issues facing our communities.
  While we have made progress in our efforts to address nearshore 
health, invasive species, toxic substances, and wildlife habitat, much 
more work remains to be done to protect the Great Lakes. That is why I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4031, working across 
party lines to protect the invaluable natural resource and economic 
powerhouse that is the Great Lakes system.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
New York (Mr. Higgins).
  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly support this bill, which would 
increase funding to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to $475 
million by the year 2026.
  This funding is essential to the health of the Great Lakes. We have 
made incredible progress to restore plant and animal habitats, control 
invasive species, combat harmful algal blooms, improve water quality, 
and clean up the environment of this region.
  The revitalization of the Buffalo River in my district, which was 
once declared ecologically dead, environmentally destroyed, it is now a 
destination for nature and recreation and is one of the great success 
stories of this program.
  It has yielded impressive economic benefits. Every $1 in funding 
generates $3.35 in economic activity. In Buffalo, the number is greater 
than $4.
  Attacks on clean water now threaten the progress that we have already 
made, and there is still much work left to be done. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in enthusiastically supporting this bill.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Gibbs).
  Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, no question, the Great Lakes are an important 
environmental and economic resource of the United States--$200 billion 
in economic activity. So many communities rely on the Great Lakes for 
drinking water, jobs, recreation, and more.
  While the Great Lakes may have had a troubled environmental history, 
recent restoration and protection efforts have been successful.
  The GLRI is a major factor in these efforts, funding projects that 
will ultimately leave the Great Lakes in a better condition for future 
generations to enjoy.
  Several years ago, when I was chairman of the subcommittee with 
jurisdiction, we had some concerns, so in our oversight responsibility 
and to protect taxpayer dollars, I requested the GAO do a study of this 
program, and it came back with an excellent return. That is why I think 
we are getting some of these returns about what is going on. Also, it 
is important that that study gave us some helpful ideas to improve the 
program. We are seeing that today, and the program is working very 
well.
  I feel good that we did that study, and we know what is going on. We 
know the taxpayer dollars are protected, and we did our oversight role.
  Ohio is home to many important projects funded by the Great Lakes 
Restoration Initiative: State commissions to reduce phosphorous, Asian 
carp prevention, and various habitat restoration projects. The GLRI 
remains an essential element in repairing and preserving the Great 
Lakes.
  I thank my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Joyce) for sponsoring this bill. 
I urge my colleagues to support passage of H.R. 4031.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).
  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I am so very pleased to rise in support of this bipartisan 
legislation to reauthorize and strengthen the Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative, the GLRI.
  Twenty percent of the world's freshwater resides in the Great Lakes. 
It is a national treasure and a regional economic engine.
  I remember when I was first elected in 2004. On election night, I was 
so excited because I said now I get to represent Lake Michigan. It is 
one of my favorite constituents.
  In its mere one decade of existence, the GLRI has not only generated 
environmental benefits, but it is helping to generate economic 
development as waterways that were once polluted, unusable, and off-
limits to the public have become attractive to not only recreational 
users but to businesses that are able to open their doors to the 
public.
  GLRI investments have been used in over 4,000 projects across almost 
300,000 square miles of the Great Lakes Basin. It is truly a win-win.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill takes the next step to support the ongoing 
efforts and partnerships that are making this program so successful in 
Great Lakes communities.
  While I don't have much time, I want to highlight a couple of efforts 
that my constituents who are hard at work to make use of the funds that 
protect Lake Michigan. Here is one story of a small business owner.
  Beth Handle is the owner and operator of Milwaukee Kayak Company, 
located right on the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee. She came to 
my

[[Page H803]]

office to share how cleaning up this river has benefited her business. 
Cleaning up the river changed the river from a place that people didn't 
want to go.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to Ms. 
Moore.

                              {time}  1415

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, cleaning up the river changed the river from 
a place that people didn't want to go, and now it is where families go 
to paddle board, swim, and explore the river and our city. Of course, 
Milwaukee is A Great Place on a Great Lake.
  The Milwaukee Water Commons, while not directly funded by the GLRI, 
has been working with grantees and others to make sure that communities 
that have been historically disengaged are in those conversations.
  Our Metropolitan Sewerage District is using it to clean up the 
Milwaukee Estuary, where there is a gathering of three rivers: the 
Kinnickinnic, the Milwaukee, and the Menomonee Rivers. This estuary is 
one of 30 areas of pollution concerns in the Great Lakes. The GLRI 
would fund 65 percent of these projects.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bill, and I am so delighted that 
we are debating it here on the floor in this bipartisan manner.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Indiana (Mrs. Walorski), my colleague.
  Mrs. WALORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4031, the Great 
Lakes Restoration Initiative Act.
  GLRI is a vital program that coordinates Federal efforts among 15 
agencies to address the most significant challenges facing the Great 
Lakes.
  The Great Lakes are among our most precious natural resources and a 
key economic driver in my home State of Indiana. For instance, the 
recreational boating industry alone provides $2 billion to Indiana's 
economy each year. Yet the environmental and economic health of our 
region is under threat from a host of issues facing the Great Lakes, 
including pollution, severe erosion, loss of native habitat, invasive 
species, and destructive algae blooms.
  GLRI is a critical investment in preserving and protecting the Great 
Lakes as well as creating jobs and growing our economy. That is why I 
am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 4031, which would 
reauthorize the program funding through fiscal year 2026.
  Protecting and improving the Great Lakes means making sure current 
and future generations can experience the natural beauty and the 
recreational activities like fishing, boating, and hiking that have 
always been important to our part of the Midwest.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representatives Joyce and Kaptur for 
their hard work on this bipartisan legislation. I also want to thank my 
fellow Hoosier, Congressman Pete Visclosky, for his decades of service 
and his leadership in making the Indiana Dunes Indiana's first national 
park.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to protect the Great Lakes by 
voting for H.R. 4031.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I inquire how much time I have 
remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from California has 12 
minutes remaining.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairwoman of the 
Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee for yielding me this time, 
and I thank her for her unyielding support for water issues across this 
country, including in our very critical Great Lakes region. She has 
been a true and unyielding champion on these issues, and I thank her.
  Today's package of bills includes key priorities for protecting not 
just our Great Lakes, but ecosystems across our country. H.R. 4031, the 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019, enjoys broad support 
from the Great Lakes region. The 49 cosponsors of the bill represent 
every ideological perspective of our caucus, and today's bill, which is 
on suspension, is a testament of that bipartisan, bicameral critical 
support.
  In that vein, Mr. Speaker, I must also commend my colleague from 
Ohio, Congressman   David Joyce, for his steadfast effort to work 
collaboratively to collect signatures for H.R. 4031 so we could move it 
from 2019 to 2020.
  This Great Lakes Act recognizes the enormous, unmet need for the 
region. The interagency collaborative effort has brought to bear 
resources, expertise, and stakeholders from across the local, State, 
and Federal portions of the region and helped to focus resources on a 
major hot spot.
  The Maumee River is the largest river that flows into the entire 
Great Lakes and is also facing gigantic harmful algal blooms. The 
Maumee River dumps all of these nutrients into Lake Erie, which then 
feeds the most productive part of the lake, endangering, annually, 
native species and creating massive harmful algal blooms with the 
critical ingredient of microcystin, which is toxic.
  Annually, the harmful algal blooms threaten Toledo's drinking water 
system, which had to be shut down 3 years ago. It threatens the safety 
of our beaches and longevity of our ecosystem.
  This Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is assisting communities to 
address the root causes of the blooms.
  Since 2010, over 4,000 projects have been completed across the basin, 
the largest watershed in the entire Great Lakes, and a recent 
University of Michigan study revealed that each dollar spent on the 
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will result in $3.35 million in 
additional economic activity.
  The long-term goals of the initiative are delisting of the areas of 
concern, ensuring that fish are safe to eat and the Asian carp is kept 
out, and control of numerous environmental problems across our lakes, 
the largest source of freshwater on our continent.
  Today's legislation offers a ramp-up back to the level for the 
restoration initiative initially envisioned when the program was first 
funded in fiscal year 2010. So it is pretty new as Federal programs go. 
This gradual ramp-up represents a consensus across the delegation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
legislation on final passage.
  Again, I want to thank Chairwoman Grace Napolitano for her work 
across both sides of the aisle and with Members of this House from 
every region of the country.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), my colleague and the co-chair of the 
Great Lakes Task Force.
  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of continued 
preservation and restoration of the Great Lakes through the Great Lakes 
Restoration Initiative, a very important initiative for the Great Lakes 
system.
  For Michiganders, the Great Lakes are directly linked to our 
identity, our way of life, our history, and our future.
  The Great Lakes basin is home to more than 30 million people, and it 
contains 90 percent of the Nation's fresh surface water supply. Many 
know that, but they don't always understand the economic impact. That 
provides the backbone of a $6 trillion regional economy.
  The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has a strong track record of 
success, specifically in west Michigan, where the work to clean up 
toxic hotspots in areas like Muskegon is estimated to have increased 
property values by nearly $12 million and generated $1 million in new 
recreational spending. This holds true across west Michigan and the 
entire region, as every dollar invested in the GLRI generates more than 
$3 in additional long-term economic activity.
  The GLRI is critical to our efforts to protect drinking water, 
prevent the spread of invasive species, and to accelerate the cleanup 
of areas of concern.
  With the threat of Asian carp inundating our waters, high water 
levels and erosion threatening our shorelines, and the ongoing threat 
of PFAS contamination contaminating our water, we must be committed to 
bipartisan solutions to protect this critical resource.
  Recently, my Republican colleagues and I had an opportunity to spend 
some time with the President, and he recommitted his support for the 
GLRI and

[[Page H804]]

towards the Great Lakes, as well as making sure that Brandon Road and 
other efforts to keep invasive species out are happening.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the 
gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, the GLRI is a bipartisan example of an 
effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars that protects, 
preserves, and strengthens the Great Lakes today and for future 
generations.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairwoman from California for 
yielding and for all of her hard work on this bill.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 4031, the Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative--or the GLRI, as we all call it--Act of 2019, which will 
reauthorize the GLRI for 5 years and increase authorized funding for 
the program to $475 million, annually, by fiscal year 2026.
  Through the GLRI program, we have been able to clean up and delist 
environmental areas of concern. We have been able to restore coastal 
wetlands, as many of my colleagues have talked about, mitigate harmful 
algae blooms, combat invasive species, and do much more to help 
protect, restore, and maintain the Great Lakes ecosystems and 
strengthen our regional economy. And, as people have seen on the floor 
today, this issue has shared strong bipartisan support at all times.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for helping to educate the 
President on the importance of the GLRI.
  The Great Lakes are not only a treasured natural resource, but a way 
of life that supports communities and jobs throughout the region. They 
are 21 percent of the world's freshwater supply.
  Building on what my colleague from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore) was talking 
about, my colleague, Ms. Tlaib, and I were able to kayak on the Rouge 
River on the 50th anniversary of its having caught on fire. We were 
surrounded by industry, but we also saw bald eagles and herons, and she 
got the most beautiful picture of a painted turtle.
  Mr. Speaker, as co-chair of the Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to 
be an original cosponsor, and I thank my colleagues, Representatives   
David Joyce and Marcy Kaptur, for their great leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important 
bill to ensure our Great Lakes are protected for all future 
generations.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the balance of time on 
both sides, please.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan has 9\1/2\ 
minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from California has 6\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Walberg), another colleague.
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
4031, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019, not just 
because my district has Lake Erie on its borders, but because of the 
impact of such a great proposal that has had bipartisan support and, 
now, thankfully, even as recently as just this last week, to talk with 
the President with my colleagues and know of his support as well.
  The Great Lakes are something that we all treasure in Michigan, and 
they are central to our State's economy and way of life. As stewards of 
this natural resource, it is incumbent on us to take care of them so 
that future generations can enjoy their beauty, their bounty, and their 
economic benefits. That is why the bipartisan support for GLRI is so 
overwhelming.
  For the past decade, the GLRI has been the driving force behind 
cleaning up and protecting the Great Lakes. Funds from this successful 
program go towards restoring wetlands, combating harmful algae blooms, 
stopping invasive species, and much, much more. With additional 
resources, we can accelerate and expand GLRI's impact even more for the 
citizens of not only our States, but of this great country.
  I am proud to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to 
preserve the Great Lakes and continue it long into the future as 
beneficial for all who experience the greatness of what it is.
  Let's pass this critical legislation.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Great Lakes 
Restoration Initiative Act's reauthorization.
  As has been mentioned before, I think, the Great Lakes represent 21 
percent of the world's surface freshwater.
  I am glad to see so many of my colleagues from the Great Lakes region 
here, but, really, all of us and the rest of the world have a stake in 
this.
  The Great Lakes provide drinking water for 45 million Americans.

                              {time}  1430

  The lakes support one of the world's largest regional economies 
through agriculture, industry, fishing, and recreation.
  For thousands of plants and animal species and millions of Americans, 
the Great Lakes are vital for life, and are our national treasure.
  I wanted to say, this is really personal for me. The eastern border 
of my district, running from Chicago to the northern suburbs, is Lake 
Michigan. I live just a few blocks from the lake myself and have spent 
every summer of my childhood on the beach in Indiana enjoying the lake.
  But we are threatened right now by climate change and pollution. Last 
year, the Midwest saw record flooding, worsening storms, harmful 
runoff, and toxic algae blooms that threaten drinking water and 
infrastructure.
  Actually, we saw thousands of Americans who couldn't drink the water 
because of that algae bloom. And in my hometown of Evanston, beaches 
are closing or actually disappearing entirely because the levels of the 
lake are at record highs right now.
  Just last month, these record water levels destroyed lakefront paths, 
and I was getting calls from condominium owners who were worried about 
their buildings getting--not demolished--but certainly damaged because 
of the high lake waters.
  New estimates from the Army Corps of Engineers state that the lake 
levels could get even higher next year, and we are watching for that 
with great distress.
  The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is absolutely essential to 
restoring the health and unpolluting the lake and protecting the 
grandeur of our lakes.
  This is a bipartisan piece of legislation. People on both sides of 
the aisle are down here speaking eloquently about the meaning of the 
Great Lakes to them, and it is really refreshing, I think, for all of 
us to be able to join hands together asking for the reauthorization of 
the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Gonzalez).
  Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4031, 
the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2019.
  First, I want to thank my good friends from Ohio, Mr. Joyce and Ms. 
Kaptur, for their leadership on this legislation. The Great Lakes are 
an essential natural resource, not only for my district and State, but 
for the entire country.
  One of the world's largest bodies of fresh water, the Great Lakes 
provide fresh drinking water for over 30 million people. In addition, 
the Great Lakes serves as an economic engine, generating $8.4 billion 
in wages, and supporting over 300,000 jobs.
  But the Great Lakes are more than a source of revenue. Ask any of my 
constituents what the Great Lakes mean to them, and they will tell you 
they are an essential part of what makes northeast Ohio such a great 
place to live, work, and raise a family.
  Over the past decade, both Democrats and Republicans have understood 
the importance of protecting the Great Lakes. Since 2010, the GLRI has 
catalyzed critical restoration action that both restores and protects 
the Great Lakes. In fact, for every dollar spent under the GLRI, an 
estimated $3.35 in economic activity is produced.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4031 and ensure the 
preservation of our waterways and ecosystems for future generations.

[[Page H805]]

  

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman 
from Wisconsin (Mr. Grothman).
  Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be able to speak on this 
initiative, given what is going on in the other house today where we 
have so much partisanship. This is the type of bipartisan work we 
should be doing.
  I am honored to be a cosponsor of the Great Lakes Restoration 
Initiative. My district goes along Lake Michigan. I know it means so 
much for the communities of Port Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc and 
Two Rivers.
  I would just like to clean up a little something here. I know a few 
years ago in 2013, there was a great deal of concern that the watermark 
in Lake Michigan was at an all-time low. People talked about climate 
change and how bad that was. It was good to report now in 2020 in 
January on the 30-year high on Lake Michigan. So maybe that is the 
reason for a crisis as well, but it is interesting to see how things 
kind of ebb and flow on Lake Michigan.
  As previously has been said, about a fifth of the fresh water in 
lakes in the world is in Lake Michigan by itself. Lake Michigan is the 
fifth biggest lake in the world. We have had problems with invasive 
species, which is one of the major reasons why I am on this bill.
  We want to keep the lakes clean not only for consuming water, but the 
fisheries, the fishing going on there is important, and recreation on 
Lake Michigan is important.
  A lot of this money goes into the agriculture in places like 
Wisconsin. We do have to keep the lakes clean, and as we keep our farms 
clean, it results in less algae blooms and a healthier lake system.
  So, in any event, I am honored to be a cosponsor on this. I am 
pleased that the Speaker has decided to put such a great bipartisan 
bill on the floor today.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Let me close with this: This bill passed committee with strong 
bipartisan support. As my colleagues have noted, including Mrs. 
Walorski, recreational use of the Great Lakes is an important component 
of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
  As I close, I would like to quote the immortal words of country 
superstar, Craig Morgan. It is a little unusual, but I think it is 
appropriate today.

  He said in a song:

     I'm meetin' my buddies out on the lake
     We're headed out to a special place we love
     That just a few folks know
     There's no signin' up, no monthly dues
     Take your Johnson, your Mercury or your Evinrude and fire it 
           up
     Meet us out at party cove
     Come on in; the water's fine
     Just idle on over, and toss us a line

  Support reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that this has such 
great bipartisan support. It truly is an amazing bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4031.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________