Environment

Capitol Connection

From our State Capitol in Lansing to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, WKAR is committed to explaining how the actions of lawmakers are affecting Michiganders. Political and government reporter Abigail Censky leads this section. There are also stories from Capitol correspondents Cheyna Roth, Rick Pluta and the Associated Press. As the 2020 presidential race begins, look here for reports on the role Michigan will play in electing or re-electing the president.

Senators Pushing To Increase Great Lakes Cleanup Funding

WKAR Public Media | By Associated Press

Published August 26, 2019 at 11:12 AM EDT

Satellite image of Great Lakes — US Senators Debbie Stabenow & Gary Peters (D-Michigan)

Michigan's U.S. senators are seeking more federal funding to continue a wide-ranging Great Lakes cleanup program.

Democrats Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters announced bipartisan legislation to renew and expand the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at a series of news conferences Thursday and Friday.

The bill would continue the program through 2026 and gradually increase its annual appropriation from the current $300 million to $475 million.

The program focuses on some of the Great Lakes' most longstanding environmental problems, including industrial toxic pollution, invasive species, runoff that causes algae blooms and wildlife habitat loss.

In Michigan, it has provided a combined $762 million for 880 projects, including restoring native fish populations in the Detroit River and removing 200 tons (181 metric tons) of marine debris from Belle Isle in Detroit.