BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the other Great Lakes will benefit from the $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill.
In a visit to Niawanda Park in Tonawanda on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said $1 billion from the bill will go towards cleaning up the Great Lakes and its connected waterways. The water quality will improve by reducing pollutants, restoring and protecting wildlife habitats, mitigating the effects of climate change, and help to preserve tourism.
"This is one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the entire world and it's under the threat of climate change," Schumer said. "If these rivers and lakes go bad, we're cooked economically."
The $1 billion will be spent over five years. Schumer said because the bill allows for additional federal funds to be used for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in each budget.
Brian Smith, Associate Director of Citizen's Campaign for the Environment, said the funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative will be a "shot in the arm" for cleaning the Great Lakes.
"Despite our progress, serious threats to our Great Lakes remain," Smith said. "Fish are still unsafe to eat. Sewage overflows are polluting our waters with raw sewage."
Some of the infrastructure upgrades will go to sewage treatment plants so that raw sewage is not dumped into the lake whenever there is a storm surge.
The United States Senate passed the $1 trillion infrastructure bill last week but may face a more time-consuming vote in the House. President Biden is expected to sign the bill after it passes the House. A second reconciliation bill could add additional funding for infrastructure.
