CHICAGO (December 18, 2019) – Congress is poised to pass a final budget for fiscal year 2020 that includes increased spending for critical conservation and research programs that benefit birds, like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

Audubon Great Lakes Policy Director, Marnie Urso said, “The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is vital for people, wildlife, and birds that call the Great Lakes region home. We applaud this bipartisan vote to increase GLRI funding to $320 million. This money will ensure that we are able to continue to improve water quality, protect native wildlife, control invasive species and clean up pollution while creating jobs and supporting our way of life. This program has helped to successfully restore habitat for shorebirds, including the endangered Piping Plover which we saw nest for the first time in Chicago in over 60 years. Moving forward it will also benefit breeding marsh birds that rely on high-quality coastal wetlands.”

Earlier this fall, the GLRI Action Plan III was released by the US Environmental Protection Agency which includes a new focus on breeding marsh birds. This new focus was added after Audubon advocates articulated the importance of Great Lakes coastal wetlands for birds. The robust federal investment of $320 million will help meet new goals while continuing to ensure strong clean water protections that are essential to successful Great Lakes restoration.

Audubon Great Lakes looks forward to working with Congressional champions to protect and restore this one of a kind ecosystem.

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Audubon Great Lakes is a regional office of Audubon, learn more at gl.audubon.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.

Contact: Marnie Urso, marnie.urso@audubon.org, 216-246-7150