I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1073 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and financial 
assistance to identify, conserve, restore, and interpret natural, rec-
reational, historical, and cultural resources within the Great Lakes Wa-
tershed, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 6, 2025 
Ms. KAPTUR (for herself and Mr. JOYCE of Ohio) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical 
and financial assistance to identify, conserve, restore, 
and interpret natural, recreational, historical, and cul-
tural resources within the Great Lakes Watershed, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Great Lakes Gateways 
Network Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. GREAT LAKES GATEWAYS. 
(a) GREAT LAKES GATEWAYS NETWORK.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte-
rior (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), 
in cooperation with the Administrator of the Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency (referred to in this sec-
tion as the ‘‘Administrator’’), shall provide technical 
and financial assistance, in cooperation with other 
Federal agencies, State and local governments, non-
profit organizations, and the private sector to— 
(A) identify, conserve, restore, and inter-
pret natural, recreational, historical, and cul-
tural resources within the Great Lakes Water-
shed; 
(B) identify and use the collective re-
sources as Great Lakes Gateways sites for en-
hancing public education regarding and access 
to the Great Lakes; 
(C) link the Great Lakes Gateways sites 
with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and other 
connections as determined by the Secretary; 
(D) develop and establish Great Lakes 
Watertrails comprising water routes and con-
nections to Great Lakes Gateways sites and 
other land resources within the Great Lakes 
Watershed; and 
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(E) create a Great Lakes Gateways Net-
work comprised of Great Lakes Gateways sites 
and Great Lakes Watertrails. 
(2) COMPONENTS.—Components of the Great 
Lakes Gateways Network may include— 
(A) State or Federal parks or refuges; 
(B) historic seaports; 
(C) archaeological, cultural, historical, or 
recreational sites; or 
(D) other public access and interpretive 
sites as selected by the Secretary. 
(b) GREAT LAKES GATEWAYS GRANTS ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in coopera-
tion with the Administrator, shall establish a Great 
Lakes Gateways Grants Assistance Program to aid 
State and local governments, local communities, 
nonprofit organizations, and the private sector in 
conserving, restoring, and interpreting important 
historic, cultural, recreational, and natural resources 
within the Great Lakes Watershed. 
(2) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in cooperation 
with the Administrator, shall develop appropriate eli-
gibility, prioritization, and review criteria for grants 
under this section. 
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(3) MATCHING
FUNDS
AND
ADMINISTRATIVE 
EXPENSES.—A grant under this section— 
(A) shall not exceed 50 percent of eligible 
project costs; 
(B) shall be made on the condition that 
non-Federal sources, including in-kind contribu-
tions of services or materials, provide the re-
mainder of eligible project costs; and 
(C) shall be made on the condition that ad-
ministrative expenses are not more than 10 per-
cent of all eligible project costs. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$6,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031. 
Æ 
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