The new budget proposal from President Trump would slash funding for the Great Lakes, but Congressman Fred Upton isn’t too concerned. Upton tells WSJM News the Trump budget proposal includes a major cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, but it did the same last year.
“The president’s budget again went after the Great Lakes Restoration Fund, cutting it by 90%,” Upton said. “The good news is that he in essence proposed the same thing last year, and last year by a nearly 100 vote margin, we reversed that, and I’m confident that we can do that again.”
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was created in 2010 to clean up problem areas in the lakes and also fight invasive species. Meanwhile, Upton tells us the 2019 budget has more money for Great Lakes navigation, operations, and maintenance. In other words, dredging. That part of the budget is $108 million, a $2.5 million increase over last year. Included is money for dredging the St. Joseph and Holland harbors. Upton says that’s “great news.”
