February 6, 2025
Ms. Kaptur (for herself and Mr. Joyce of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial assistance to identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the Great Lakes Watershed, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Great Lakes Gateways Network Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Great Lakes Gateways
(a) Great Lakes Gateways Network
(1) In general
The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretary
), in cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the Administrator
), shall provide technical and financial assistance, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector to—
(A)
identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources within the Great Lakes Watershed;
(B)
identify and use the collective resources as Great Lakes Gateways sites for enhancing public education regarding and access to the Great Lakes;
(C)
link the Great Lakes Gateways sites with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other connections as determined by the Secretary;
(D)
develop and establish Great Lakes Watertrails comprising water routes and connections to Great Lakes Gateways sites and other land resources within the Great Lakes Watershed; and
(E)
create a Great Lakes Gateways Network comprised of Great Lakes Gateways sites and Great Lakes Watertrails.
(2) Components
Components of the Great Lakes Gateways Network may include—
(A)
State or Federal parks or refuges;
(B)
historic seaports;
(C)
archaeological, cultural, historical, or recreational sites; or
(D)
other public access and interpretive sites as selected by the Secretary.
(b) Great Lakes Gateways Grants Assistance Program
(1) In general
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Administrator, shall establish a Great Lakes Gateways Grants Assistance Program to aid State and local governments, local communities, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector in conserving, restoring, and interpreting important historic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources within the Great Lakes Watershed.
(2) Criteria
The Secretary, in cooperation with the Administrator, shall develop appropriate eligibility, prioritization, and review criteria for grants under this section.
(3) Matching funds and administrative expenses
A grant under this section—
(A)
shall not exceed 50 percent of eligible project costs;
(B)
shall be made on the condition that non-Federal sources, including in-kind contributions of services or materials, provide the remainder of eligible project costs; and
(C)
shall be made on the condition that administrative expenses are not more than 10 percent of all eligible project costs.
(c) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.