Walberg, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Efforts

Today, Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), David Joyce (R-OH), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Hillary Scholten (D-MI) introduced the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to bolster federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation. This legislation designates the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Regional Ocean Partnerships Program.

This designation ensures that the Great Lakes region receives a fair share of program funding, delivering federal resources to support the GLC's longstanding work to coordinate Great Lakes research and conservation efforts.

"As the largest freshwater system in the world, the Great Lakes are central to Michigan's economy, identity, and long-term prosperity," said Rep. Walberg. "The bipartisan Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act ensures the region receives its fair share of federal support, strengthening the research and conservation work needed to protect this indispensable resource. We must equip our partners with the tools necessary to safeguard the waters and communities that rely on a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem."

"As a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I helped introduce this legislation to close a gap in a national program that benefits only coastal ocean states. The bill continues our work together to ensure the Federal Government levels the playing field to commit equivalent, well-deserved resources to our Great Lakes region," said Rep. Kaptur. "The Great Lakes are central and essential to Northwest Ohio's livelihood and economic wellbeing, and enabling the Great Lakes Commission to participate in this NOAA program will strengthen data sharing, enhance information access, and improve management of our coastal and ecosystem resources. In Lake Erie's Western Basin, home to the shallowest and southernmost shoreline in the Great Lakes system, we face these challenges in real ways and will continue to lead in advancing research and information exchange for the benefit of our entire region."

"As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I have made it my mission to have the federal government recognize the Great Lakes as a national priority," said. Rep. Huizenga. "The Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act furthers this objective by enhancing the Great Lakes Commission's steadfast work to protect and conserve Michigan's most valuable natural resource."

"The Great Lakes and their connected waterways are invaluable resources for Michigan and the United States," said Rep. Dingell. "As a co-chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to strengthen federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation for future generations to enjoy these national treasures."

"The Great Lakes are a critical resource for the economies and communities that surround them," said Rep. Joyce. "As Co-Chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation, which will strengthen federal partnerships and expand funding opportunities to advance the research, coordination, and conservation efforts needed to protect the Great Lakes - ensuring they remain a resource our communities can rely on for generations to come."

"Michigan is the Great Lakes state, period. Jobs, recreation, and tourism across the Midwest depend on a healthy and flourishing Great Lakes ecosystem," said Rep. Stevens. "I'm proud to work alongside my colleagues of both parties to ensure that Michigan receives our fair share of federal investment that will protect and preserve our Lakes for generations to come."

"Protecting the Great Lakes means protecting our water, wildlife, and communities throughout the region," said Rep. Barrett. "This bipartisan legislation will help bring federal resources to the table and strengthen the partnerships already working to preserve our state's natural resources. I'm proud to work with colleagues from across the region to ensure our Great Lakes remain healthy for generations to come."

"As the largest freshwater system in the world, the Great Lakes are one of Michigan's greatest assets," said Rep. Scholten. "I'm proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act. This commonsense bill will strengthen the research and coordination that keeps the Great Lakes region healthy. Investing in our Great Lakes is investing in our future, and it's crucial that we conserve this resource for the next generation."

"The Great Lakes Commission is grateful to Rep. Walberg for introducing this important legislation to designate the GLC as a regional partnership for the Great Lakes," said GLC Chair Timothy Bruno, Great Lakes Program Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. "This designation will allow the agency to build on its more than 70 years of regional leadership - fostering dialogue, building consensus, and advancing coordinated solutions to the Great Lakes' most pressing challenges - to ensure the Great Lakes region continues to speak with a strong, unified voice. We look forward to working with our partners to realize the full benefits of this program for the region."

Background

The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) brings together eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces to protect the Great Lakes and promote economic growth in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC is composed of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

NOAA's Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) coordinate interstate ocean and coastal resource management efforts and create opportunities for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Although NOAA administers four Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Gulf, and West Coast, the Great Lakes currently lack an ROP. Designating the GLC as the region's ROP will ensure the Great Lakes region receives its fair share of program funding.

Companion legislation, introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), has been advanced by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.