Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act of 2022

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his incredible support, and I thank my Republican colleague for his kind words and how we work together.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Reauthorization Act. This bipartisan legislation, which I am leading with my other colleagues, Congressman Darin LaHood, Congressman Paul Tonko, and Congressman David Joyce, supports fish and wildlife conservation efforts in the Great Lakes.

Since 1998, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act has provided critical resources for coordinating conservation efforts across the Great Lakes ecosystem. This longstanding bipartisan backing underscores the efficacy of the proven conservation mechanisms in this legislation, including collaborative, private-public partnerships that maximize the impact of Federal funding to make landscape-level improvements to our fish and wildlife habitats.

A recently released report on the program by the Department of the Interior, found that as a result of the fish and wildlife grant program authorized by the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act, that significant progress has been made in addressing the six Great Lakes' restoration goals specified in the legislation.

This includes control of sea lamprey populations across the Great Lakes, progress on the restoration of lake trout in Lake Huron leading to reducing stocking targets, and other species recovery efforts vital to sustaining the very unique ecosystem of the Great Lakes Basin.

However, continued work is required to protect the Great Lakes for future generations given the environmental pressures that this region faces.

To this end, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act would authorize funding for the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act for 5 years, from fiscal years 2022 through 2027, at the current funding levels.

This legislation has broad bipartisan support, as well as the backing of a variety of groups dedicated to safeguarding the Great Lakes, including Ducks Unlimited and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

These Great Lakes are 90 percent of the freshwater in the United States. We must protect them.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important legislation, which will ensure our Great Lakes are protected for many generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5973) to reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

H.R. 5973, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Reauthorization Act, is sponsored by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell), my friend and colleague from the Natural Resources Committee.

This bill reauthorizes funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to combat pollution, invasive species, and habitat loss in the Great Lakes region.

The Great Lakes Basin is the largest body of fresh water on the planet, holding 18 percent of the world's freshwater supply. Some 35 million people across 8 States and Canada depend on the basin for drinking water, jobs, and recreation.

The Great Lakes are also a habitat to more than 500 migratory bird species, more than 140 species of fish, and many endangered and threatened species.

However, agricultural and industrial waste pose a threat to the water quality in the basin. There are extensive populations of harmful invasive species. And wildlife species are at risk due to habitat loss.

Fortunately, since 1990, the Fish and Wildlife Service has worked with local communities and NGOs to restore the Great Lakes Basin by tackling pollution, removing invasive species, and restoring essential habitats.

Congress has reauthorized funding for this important program three times, and I urge them to do so again today so that the Fish and Wildlife Service can continue the excellent work that they are doing in protecting that extraordinary and necessary ecosystem.

I commend my colleague, Representative Dingell, for her work on this important bipartisan bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge its adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5973, a bill sponsored by our colleague, Representative Debbie Dingell from Michigan, to reauthorize the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act.

Under the authorities provided by this law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed six common Great Lakes fish and wildlife restoration goals in collaboration with State and local partners. To date, 81 fish and wildlife restoration grant projects have been funded through this cooperative effort.

This law has been reauthorized three times, most recently in 2016. The bill we are considering today would extend these authorities until 2027 without increasing funding authorization.

We appreciate Congresswoman Dingell's commitment not to move this bill until the Fish and Wildlife Service provided a mandatory report to Congress. In late March, we finally received this report, which allowed us to evaluate the current program and its progress toward meeting its goals.

I commend Congresswoman Dingell for her leadership on this legislation, and I urge adoption of the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5973 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.