(October 7, 2026) – Last week, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a federal program that invests millions of dollars to clean up toxic pollution, protect water quality, and restore critical habitat for birds and other wildlife. The House and Senate will now work on creating a single final version of the legislation that both chambers can approve.⁠ Statement from Marnie Urso, Senior Policy Director for Audubon’s Great Lakes Office:   “We applaud the U.S. Senate for taking this important step toward continued funding for restoration projects across the Great Lakes region that are creating healthier habitat for…