08/02/2019- A pair of initiatives championed by US Senator Tammy Baldwin could be big wins for the Great Lakes. Baldwin has introduced legislation to reauthorize and expand funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The bill has bipartisan support and would increase the current authorization level from $300-million to $375-million in FY 2022 and add an additional $25-million annually until 2026. Baldwin says the legislation is critical for the health of the region and helps clean up polluted sites and combat invasive species through projects similar to the recent Menekaunee Harbor restoration work.
Baldwin has also secured authorization from the Senate Commerce Committee for a second large US Coast Guard ice cutter to operate on the Great Lakes. She says the procurement of an additional vessel will help ensure the regional economy doesn’t suffer because of inadequate icebreaking operations.
Baldwin is a member of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. Her push for the new icebreaker now heads to the full Senate for consideration.