Contact: Madison Wiberg

Madison.Wiberg@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. – In response to the administration’s fiscal year 2019 budget proposal, Rep. Gallagher came out in opposition to a massive funding cut to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The proposal released Monday slashes funding for the GLRI from $300 million to just $30 million next year. The GLRI is an inter-agency program designed to address the most significant problems in the Great Lakes, and works to protect, restore, and maintain the Great Lakes ecosystem.

In response to the proposed cut, Rep. Gallagher released the following statement:

“We cannot afford to lose GLRI’s help in the fight for clean water. In Wisconsin alone, the Great Lakes contribute over $1.4 billion to our economy and support more than 8,000 jobs. Green Bay and Lake Michigan are some of Northeast Wisconsin’s most treasured assets, and I’ll continue to fight on their behalf until the necessary funding is secured. Future generations are depending on it.”

Rep. Gallagher’s record in support of the Great Lakes:

· Press Gazette: Gallagher opposes Trump’s Great Lakes cuts

· WBAY: Gallagher hopes to get more in Congress to Save the Bay

· Door County Pulse: Saving our Shores: Gallagher Continues Save the Bay Initiative

· Press Gazette: Gallagher reconvenes Ribble’s Save the Bay effort

· Release: Rep. Mike Gallagher Opposes Trump Administration Cuts to Great Lakes

· Release: Gallagher Urges Office of Management & Budget to Fund GLRI at $300 Million in FY19

· Release: Rep. Gallagher Urges Administration to Release Asian Carp Report

· Column: Save the bay initiative keeps moving forward

· Gallagher delivers speech to the Great Lakes Commission in support of GLRI funding

· Gallagher hosts Save the Bay Roundtable

Background: The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on Earth, accounting for 84% of North America’s surface fresh water. Wisconsin alone has shorelines on two of the five Great Lakes in the region. In the seven years that the GLRI has been in place, funds have been used to support more than 3,000 restoration projects which address longstanding environmental challenges confronting the Lakes. The projects have focused on improving water quality, protecting native habitat, cleaning up environmentally-impaired areas, preventing beach closings, and combating invasive species.

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