Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1073
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-10: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H607)
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-29T14:12:26Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025 aims to protect and promote the natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources of the Great Lakes Watershed (the land area that drains into the Great Lakes, spanning parts of eight U.S. states and Canada) by directing federal assistance for their identification, conservation, restoration, and interpretation. It seeks to enhance public education, access, and connectivity through a network of sites and trails.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Great Lakes Gateways Network: The Secretary of the Interior, working with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other partners (including federal agencies, state/local governments, nonprofits, and private entities), must provide technical and financial support to:
- Identify, conserve, restore, and interpret resources in the watershed.
- Designate "Great Lakes Gateways" sites to improve public education and access to the Great Lakes.
- Connect these sites via trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other routes.
- Develop "Great Lakes Watertrails" (designated water routes linking sites and land resources).
- Form an overall network of gateways sites and watertrails.
- Network Components: Eligible sites include state or federal parks/refuges, historic seaports, archaeological/cultural/historical/recreational areas, and other public access or interpretive locations selected by the Secretary.
- Great Lakes Gateways Grants Assistance Program: A new grant program to help state/local governments, communities, nonprofits, and private groups conserve, restore, and interpret key resources. Grants require:
- Development of eligibility, prioritization, and review criteria by the Secretary and EPA Administrator.
- Federal funding covering no more than 50% of project costs, with the rest from non-federal sources (including in-kind contributions like services or materials).
- Administrative expenses limited to 10% of total eligible costs.
- Funding Authorization: $6,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to implement the Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces entirely new programs—the Great Lakes Gateways Network and the associated grants initiative—without explicitly amending prior laws. It builds on existing federal authorities for resource management (e.g., under the Department of the Interior) by adding specific directives and funding for watershed-wide connectivity and public access, which were not previously mandated in this comprehensive form.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior and EPA will need to collaborate on program administration, grant reviews, and resource mapping, potentially increasing their workload and coordination with other federal entities. State and local governments may receive new funding streams but must provide matching contributions.
- Citizens: Residents and visitors in the Great Lakes region could gain improved recreational opportunities, educational resources, and access to protected sites, fostering tourism, environmental awareness, and cultural preservation. This may enhance quality of life in watershed communities while promoting sustainable use of natural areas.
- International Relations: The bill focuses on the U.S. portion of the watershed but could indirectly support U.S.-Canada cooperation on shared Great Lakes resources (e.g., through aligned conservation efforts), though it does not create new bilateral mechanisms.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Primarily the Department of the Interior (leading implementation) and EPA (cooperating partner).
- State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Eligible for grants and involved in site development within the eight-state watershed.
- Nonprofits and Private Sector: Can apply for funding and partner on projects like trail development or site restoration.
- Communities and Public: Local residents, tourists, educators, and environmental groups benefiting from enhanced access and interpretation of resources.
- Cultural/Historical Groups: Organizations focused on preserving archaeological, indigenous, or maritime heritage in the region.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The Act relies on Congress's authority under the Property Clause (U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 3) to manage federal lands and waters, with no apparent conflicts. Grant matching requirements ensure fiscal responsibility, and the 10% administrative cap limits overhead. Implementation may involve environmental reviews under laws like the National Environmental Policy Act.
- Constitutional: No significant challenges; it promotes public welfare through resource stewardship without infringing on states' rights, as it emphasizes voluntary cooperation and non-federal matching.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from representatives in Ohio, a key Great Lakes state) highlights regional priorities for economic (e.g., tourism) and environmental benefits. The time-limited funding authorization could spur short-term action but may require future reauthorization, potentially influencing debates on federal spending for conservation amid budget constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-10: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H607)
- 2025-02-06: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-06: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-06: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E102)
- 2025-02-06: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-06 — PDF (4 pages)