Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio) introduced the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act on September 18, 2025. The legislation aims to support both commercial and recreational fishing in Ohio, which contributes $5.5 billion to the state’s economy.
“Whether commercial or recreational, fishing is a staple of Ohio’s culture and economy, generating $5.5 billion for our state. Millions of Ohioans rely on—and enjoy—the experience and the bounty of fishing, from catching and eating perch or walleye to pursuing the many other sport fish found in Lake Erie and its tributaries. A healthy lake is essential to this way of life, and the U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center is on the front lines of ensuring Lake Erie remains a thriving and sustainable fishery,” said Husted.
“I’m proud that the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act will soon become my third bill signed into law, and I will continue to support the resilient communities across Ohio that depend on these waters. This is a testament to what bipartisan cooperation can achieve when we focus on solving real problems for the American people,” Husted concluded.
“I’m grateful to my colleagues in the House for taking action to pass this important legislation. The Great Lakes Science Center helps protect the freshwater fisheries and habitats that are invaluable economic and ecological assets for Michigan and the entire Great Lakes Region. I’m pleased to see this bill is one step closer to becoming law, and I’ll never stop fighting to support our Great Lakes,” said Peters.
The original authorization for the Great Lakes Fishery Research Program expired at the end of September 2025. The new act would extend funding through fiscal year 2030, allowing continued research by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center. This center supplies scientific information used by resource managers throughout the region to restore, manage, and protect wildlife habitats within the basin.
The bill received bipartisan support as it moved through Congress. It passed out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works—where Senator Husted is currently the only member representing a Great Lakes state—on October 29, 2025. The Senate approved it on November 19, followed by passage in the House of Representatives on December 15.
During his first year in Congress, Husted has had two other bills signed into law focused on affordability and improving daily life for families in Ohio.
The full text of the bill can be accessed here.
