Jon Bumstead
Michigan State Senator
Director, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly
Major investment in water quality, dams, and natural resources
I introduced legislation to fund meaningful investments in our state’s water infrastructure. Clean water and protecting our natural resources, especially our Great Lakes, has always been a legislative priority of mine. Over the years, my office has had numerous discussions with constituents and worked closely with stakeholders to determine where improvements need to take place and how funds can be used more effectively.
I introduced Senate Bill 565 to invest $3.3 billion to preserve and protect Michigan’s water quality, infrastructure, and vital natural resources.
Senate Bill 565 would provide $1 billion to replace lead pipes across the state, $700 million to upgrade local drinking water and wastewater facilities and $85 million to ensure students have access to safe water by installing filtered water stations inside schools. The plan also addresses the harmful impacts of PFAS chemicals and would dedicate $100 million in grants to remove the chemicals from so-called orphaned sites.
The water infrastructure bill would also invest hundreds of millions of dollars to:
- Repair, remove or remediate dams in critical condition to mitigate and avoid costly catastrophes like what happened in Midland last year;
- Assist communities with upgrading and replacing water treatment infrastructure and help homeowners to replace failing septic systems;
- Conduct surface water monitoring, including for wetland mitigation; and
- To implement recommendations included in the Groundwater Use Advisory Council Report.
These grant and loan programs are a major investment in not only community safety, but the safety and reliability of the state’s water infrastructure. It is critical that we use this unique moment to make a transformational change for the better.
I believe we should actively protect the water in our lakes and rivers, as well as the drinking water entering the pipes of our homes. Clean drinking water and taking care of our natural resources aren’t partisan issues. This one-time federal funding will be a great asset as we work toward a cleaner, safer Michigan.
The Michigan Senate took significant action toward ensuring our state’s water infrastructure will undergo improvements that will benefit every Michigander for generations to come by passing Senate Bill 565 unanimously. I am hopeful my colleagues in the House of Representatives and the governor lend their support quickly, so we can get to work.
This is an opportunity to come together as Michiganders to take care of our clean drinking water, dams in critical condition, and to protect our natural resources. Now is the time to take advantage of this one-time federal funding to build a cleaner, safer Michigan.