WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP)-- A proposal to continue a wide-ranging Great Lakes cleanup program has been resurrected in Congress after falling short last month.
Republican Rep. David Joyce of Ohio introduced the bill Thursday. It would extend the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for another five years and authorize spending $300 million annually.
President Barack Obama established the program in 2010. About $1.6 billion has been appropriated for projects to improve fish and wildlife habitat, clean up toxic pollution, reduce farm and city runoff and fight invasive species.
Joyce sponsored a similar bill last year with bipartisan support from lawmakers in the eight Great Lakes states. It won House approval but died in the Senate.