What changed between these versions
A substantive modification to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative reauthorization. v2 updates the short title year from 2025 to 2026 and significantly alters the funding authorization, reducing the annual appropriation from $500,000,000 to $475,000,000 and shortening the reauthorization period from five fiscal years (2027-2031) to four fiscal years (2027-2030).
Overview
A limited number of changes, specifically two main modifications. · v2 narrows the scope of the reauthorization by reducing the authorized annual funding and shortening the duration of the reauthorization period compared to v1.
The primary change in v2 is a significant reduction in the authorized funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The annual appropriation is decreased from $500,000,000 to $475,000,000, and the reauthorization period is shortened from five fiscal years (2027-2031) to four fiscal years (2027-2030). Additionally, the short title of the Act has been updated from "Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025" to "Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2026". No other substantive provisions or purposes of the bill were altered.
Deletions
v1 proposed to amend existing subclauses (V) and (VI) to allow for the addition of a new subclause (VII) which would authorize $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. This specific amendment structure and the proposed funding authorization within subclause (VII) are deleted.
The deletion removes the specific, detailed amendment structure proposed in v1, which would have incrementally added a new funding authorization. Instead, v2 opts for a complete replacement of the entire clause (i), thereby eliminating the specific subclause (VII) and its associated funding level and duration as envisioned in v1.
Modifications
This is a procedural update reflecting the legislative timeline, with no direct operative impact on the substance of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative itself.
Before
The Act was to be cited as the "Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2025" or the "GLRI Act of 2025".
After
The Act is to be cited as the "Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2026" or the "GLRI Act of 2026".
This modification significantly reduces the total authorized funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The annual funding is decreased by $25,000,000, and the reauthorization period is shortened by one year, resulting in a total reduction of $600,000,000 over the reauthorization period ($2.5 billion in v1 vs. $1.9 billion in v2). This will likely impact the scale and duration of restoration projects and activities funded under the initiative.
Before
This section amended clause (i) by striking "and" in subclause (V), striking the period and inserting "; and" in subclause (VI), and adding a new subclause (VII) authorizing $500,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
After
This section completely strikes clause (i) and inserts a new clause (i) that authorizes $475,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2030.
Scope
Meaningful expansion or narrowing — The changes are concentrated in two specific sections: the short title and the core reauthorization provision for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. — v2 represents a meaningful narrowing of the policy direction by reducing the financial commitment and duration of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative's reauthorization compared to v1. — The changes directly affect the funding levels and duration for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which will consequently impact all programs and projects operating under this initiative.
Impact analysis
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and all entities involved in Great Lakes restoration efforts (e.g., federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal organizations, non-profits, academic institutions, and communities within the Great Lakes basin).
This group will experience a reduction in available federal funding for restoration projects and activities, potentially leading to a decrease in the scope, number, or duration of such efforts.
The authorized annual funding for the GLRI is reduced, and the reauthorization period is shortened.
Taxpayers (indirectly).
This group will see a lower potential federal expenditure for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
The total authorized appropriation for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is reduced.