WASHINGTON (WLUC) - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) secured a $9 million increase in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative on Thursday.
The funding is an increase from the proposed level of $301 million to $310 million.
This passed the Senate on Thursday as part of a government funding bill.
The fund has been used to clean up toxic areas in the Great Lakes, deal with invasive species, among other projects.
Peters emphasized the importance of securing funding for the future to keep the Great Lakes clean.
"This is the first time that we've actually appropriated more money than is authorized to be appropriated, this is a really big step to making sure that we continue to get funding in years forward,” said Peters. “I've also authored legislation to increase that authorization level even higher in future years."
This additional funding is not earmarked for any specific projects at the moment.