Lawmakers rip Trump plan to end funding for Great Lakes program

SANDUSKY — The Trump administration's proposal to wipe out funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is drawing bipartisan fire from members of Ohio's congressional delegation.Last week, the president released his budget proposals, including elimination of all funding for the initiative.The president's budget document says the president wants to eliminate funding for "specific regional efforts." It says, "The budget returns the responsibility for funding local environmental efforts and programs to state and local entities, allowing EPA to focus on its highest national priorities."The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, launched by the Obama administration in response to pollution problems in the Great Lakes, has provided funding for programs to aid Lake Erie. The program currently is funded at $300 million a year.U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo; U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, all criticized the proposed elimination of the program.Kaptur described Trump's budget as "dead on arrival" and said the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is both popular and bipartisan.Portman said he'll fight for the program, just as he did when Obama was the president."The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has been a critical tool in our efforts to help protect and restore Lake Erie, and when the Obama administration proposed cuts to the program, I helped lead the effort to restore full funding. I have long championed this program, and I'm committed to continuing to do everything I can to protect and preserve Lake Erie, including preserving this critical program and its funding," Portman said."Taking an ax to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will cost Ohio jobs and jeopardize public health by putting the well-being of Lake Erie at risk. As a kid, I remember seeing how polluted Lake Erie was, and we can't put an end to our cleanup efforts when we've made such progress. My colleagues in the Ohio delegation and I will not stand for a budget that zeroes out this critical program," Brown said.U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, said he also supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.""Lake Erie impacts our area in so many ways, and I believe protecting the Great Lakes requires a coordinated effort between local, state and federal governments, and the public. While I am as fiscally conservative as they come, and I believe we must set strict spending priorities in order to balance the federal budget, I support federal involvement in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative," he said. Portman also wants to know what happened to the commitment he received from the EPA's new administator, Scott Pruitt, to support fully funding the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.On Feb. 17, Portman voted to confirm Pruitt as EPA administrator and then issued a statement explaining his vote."When I met with now Administrator Pruitt, he committed to continue the work we've started to protect Lake Erie from harmful algal blooms and invasive species and to fully implement and fully fund my legislation to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative," Portman said in that February statement.The Register asked Portman Tuesday about that statement Tuesday, when the senator talked on the phone with Ohio reporters.Portman said he has contacted Pruitt for an explanation, noting that he had received a specific commitment Pruitt would support the current funding level of $300 million. The senator said he understands Pruitt sought funding for the program but lost an internal debate."I am concerned about it," Portman said. "Sometimes cabinet members get overruled."Portman said he will rally bipartisan support to continue funding for the program.Rob PortmanEPA Administrator Scott Pruitt