House sends Great Lakes Legacy Act to President

During a rare Sunday session this week the House voted 411 to 9 to pass the Great Lakes Legacy Act - again. The Senate had considered the House bill late last week. During Senate consideration, the Senate amended the bill and lowered the authorized funding to current levels, or $50 million a year for sediment remediation projects. The Senate took this action because Senators from outside the Great Lakes basin were blocking the increase in funding that Great Lakes Senators supported. The House had to accept the Senate amendments before the bill could go to the President for his signature, which is set to happen in the next week or so.

Although the Senate amendment lowered Legacy Act funding to current levels, it also only authorized the program for an additional two years instead of the typical five. This means that Congress will have to take up the funding levels for the program again in the new Congress, which starts in January.

Thank you to each of Wisconsin's US Representatives for voting in favor of protecting our Great Lakes!