The Great Lakes Authority Act (H.R. 7131) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last week by Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). Along with Rep. Kaptur, who serves as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, Reps. Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Bobby Rush (IL-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Joe Morelle (NY-25), and Haley Stevens (MI-11) are original cosponsors. The bill would create the Great Lakes Authority, which would be a federal entity focused on the economic interests of the eight Great Lakes states.
According to Rep. Kaptur's office pressrelease, the Great Lakes Authority would:
Promote economic development and job creation, and create world-class workforce education, training, and adjustment institutions to spur economic growth in communities disproportionately affected by the outsourcing of jobs;
Restore and protect the Great Lakes which are the principal source of surface freshwater in North America;
Foster innovation to strengthen and expand domestic manufacturing and promote cleaner and more sustainable power production;
Establish and administer funding mechanisms to finance clean energy, green infrastructure, water infrastructure, and broadband infrastructure projects.
The bill would authorize $30 million in funding for the Great Lakes Authority beginning in fiscal year 2023, and $50 million each fiscal year thereafter. The bill has yet to be referred to a House Committee, but NEMWI will continue to monitor the bill as it moves through the legislative process.
Senate Committee Holds Hearing
on Clean Water State Revolving Fund
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held an oversight hearing on the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) last week. A panel of experts testified about the role that the Clean Water SRF plays in financing critical water infrastructure projects throughout the nation.
The Clean Water SRF has provided a total federal investment of $48.1 billion to date and had financed a total of $153 billion of investment in communities nationwide through 2021. Kyle Dreyfuss-Wells, who is Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, discussed the importance of SRF to the Great Lakes region, citing that his organization has received nearly $600 million in federal construction grants that they have invested in reducing the amount of combined sewage to Lake Erie and making critical improvements to the region’s wastewater collection system and treatment facilities.
To watch a recording of the hearing, please visithere.
NEMWI Updates Great Lakes Legislative Tracker
The Northeast-Midwest continues to update the Great Lakes Legislative Tracker with new bills that have been introduced during this session of Congress. In addition to Rep. Kaptur's Great Lakes Authority Act, Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI-5) has introduced the Financing Lead Out of Water Act of 2022 (FLOW), which would help eliminate red tape when financing lead pipe removal on private properties. Rep. Kildee has also introduced the VET PFAS Act to provide hospital care to veterans stationed at military bases with high levels of PFAS contamination.
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This Week in Washington
In the House:
No relevant hearings. District work periods scheduled this week.
