Democratic legislators Sen. Sherrod Brown and Rep. Marcy Kaptur criticized radical federal budget cuts for protection and restoration programs for Lake Erie and the Great Lakes during a press conference on Monday at Edgewater Park on the Lake Erie shoreline.

On July 23, the Republican-dominated interior and environment subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee voted to cut GLRI funding by almost 80 percent, from $285 million to $60 million. The bill also cut funding of the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, which helps communities fix old sewers, from $1.03 billion to a proposed $250 million.

“We hope the dollars can be restored when the bill comes back to the Senate,” said Sen. Brown. “This could significantly jeopardize the economy of Northern Ohio and the livelihood of its citizens.”