The Co-Chairs of the Great Lakes Task Force sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Army Corps about the delayed construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. kaptur.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
kaptur.house.gov
Northeast-Midwest Institute
@nemwinstitute.bsky.social
Nonprofit, nonpartisan research, and policy organization in DC. Promoting economic and environmental vitality for the 18 Northeastern and Midwestern states.
On July 15th, the Great Lakes Members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Coast Guard authority, urging the Coast Guard to “expeditiously complete” two Congressionally mandated items relating to icebreaking. Read more: conta.cc/4vOoXQJ
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Invasive species bill recieves hearing, Great Lakes members send letter to Coast Guard, PFAS task force sends letter to DOD NEMWI Weekly Update July 27th, 2
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Co-Chairs of the Congressional PFAS Task Force urged the Defense Department to submit its overdue plan to prioritize PFAS cleanup at military sites, set timelines, and expand testing. The strategy was due June 16. Read the letter: mcdonaldrivet.house.gov/sites/evo-su...
mcdonaldrivet.house.gov
NEMWI updated its Federal Critical Minerals Legislative Tracker with bills to expand allied partnerships, support mineral production, strengthen domestic development, and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources. View the updated tracker: www.nemw.org/critical-min...
Northeast-Midwest Institute » Blog Archive » Critical Minerals Legislative Tracker 2025-26
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Wildfire smoke from Ontario and Minnesota raised Air Quality Index levels to 500 in parts of the Midwest and 300 in Washington, D.C. PM2.5 exposure can worsen health problems and has been connected to lower productivity and higher crime rates. Read more:https://conta.cc/4wfoPuP
Last week, House and Senate Committees advanced the Water Resources Development Act, which is the biennial water infrastructure bill that authorizes U.S. Army Corps projects across the country. The bills also cover fishery investments and algal bloom mitigation efforts. Read: conta.cc/4wfoPuP
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute House, Senate Committees advance WRDA bills. Plus: What is really to blame for wildfires? NEMWI Weekly Update July 20th, 2026 Senate EPW, House T&I Advanc
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Climate change, not Canadian forest management policy, is to blame for current wildfire blazes. Canada is experiencing faster warming than the global average, contributing to hotter, dryer fire seasons. More:https://conta.cc/4wfoPuP
Last month, the Joint U.S.–Canadian Committee of Advisors to the GLFC passed a resolution in support of the Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025. The bill authorizes $500M over 10 years for the U.S section of the GLFC to combat invasive species of mussels. conta.cc/4wjLbLT
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Black River AOC takes a step towards delisting, GLFC advisors endorse SGLF Act NEMWI Weekly Update July 13th, 2026 Final BUI Removed at Black River AOC
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Since May 2024, environmental conditions have improved enough to remove the last of the nine beneficial use impairments (BUIs) at the Black River Area of Concern (AOC), setting Black River to be delisted. Read more: conta.cc/4wjLbLT
The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation discussed the Implementation of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025. GLTF members from Michigan questioned the U.S. Coast Guard leadership on Great Lakes icebreaking and other operations. Read more: conta.cc/4eWTaIx
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Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute NOAA HABs forecast released, Coast Guard quizzed on icebreaking NEMWI Weekly Update July 6th, 2026 NOAA Issues Forecast for Lake Erie’s 2026 Algal Bloom
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The Northeast-Midwest Institute is excited to announce its Summer 2026 intern team, with five interns from colleges and states across the Northeast-Midwest region and the country.
NOAA is predicting a moderate harmful algal bloom for the western Lake Erie basin, estimating a severity of 3-4.5 on a 1 to 10 scale. At Ohio Sea Grant’s annual harmful algal bloom forecast for Lake Erie, data on phosphorus entering the lake and potential solutions were presented. conta.cc/4eWTaIx
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute NOAA HABs forecast released, Coast Guard quizzed on icebreaking NEMWI Weekly Update July 6th, 2026 NOAA Issues Forecast for Lake Erie’s 2026 Algal Bloom
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On June 24, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced H.R. 9250, which would reauthorize the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund for five years at $1.9 billion. The fund supports national parks and public lands. Read More: conta.cc/4y1HBr0
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute House committee examines critical mineral legislation NEMWI Weekly Update June 29th, 2026 House Subcommittee Examines Bipartisan Bills To Strengthen Ameri
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On June 24, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment considered bills addressing critical mineral supply chains, battery recycling, mine waste recovery, and permitting reform. Read More: conta.cc/4y1HBr0
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute House committee examines critical mineral legislation NEMWI Weekly Update June 29th, 2026 House Subcommittee Examines Bipartisan Bills To Strengthen Ameri
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Last week, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources passed the America the Beautiful Act. The bill would reauthorize $1.9 billion in annual funding for the 2020 National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. Read more:https://conta.cc/4eVS27M
The Senate EPW Committee reviewed FWS’s FY27 budget, with lawmakers raising concerns about Great Lakes invasive species funding, invasive carp response efforts, and species recovery under the Endangered Species Act. Read more: conta.cc/4eVS27M
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute NEMWI updates Great Lakes Tracker, House and Senate Committees advance legislation NEMWI Weekly Update June 22nd, 2026 NEMWI Updates Great Lakes Tracker
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NEMWI updated the Great Lakes Policy Tracker with new bills addressing water pollution and invasive species, including the PFAS Cleanup Act and the Aquatic Invasive Species Control and Prevention Act of 2026. NEMWI’s Great Lakes and Water Policy Legislative Tracker: www.nemw.org/federal-grea...
Northeast-Midwest Institute » Blog Archive » Federal Great Lakes and Water Legislation Tracker, 2025-26
nemw.org
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on nuclear energy legislation such as H.R. 5549, the Efficient Nuclear Licensing Hearings Act, H.R. 9084, the Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act, and the Nuclear Advisory Committee Reform Act. Read: conta.cc/4oqfJIo
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute NEMWI, GLFC hold Sea lamprey event, an updated manufacturing tracker, and hearings on the Hill NEMWI Weekly Update June 15th, 2026 GLFC Legislative Affair
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Environment America's, “A Path to Cleaner Water: The Great Lakes,” written by Abby Longo, highlights wastewater and stormwater infrastructure investments that reduce runoff and sewage overflows. This promotes the long-term health of the Great Lakes basin. Read: environmentamerica.org/center/resou...
A Path to Cleaner Water
America’s waterways are a national asset. They are the places we swim on hot summer days, kayak with friends and family, spend a relaxing day fishing, and so much more. Yet billions of gallons of stor...
environmentamerica.org
Last week, the House Committee on Natural Resources met to consider H.R. 3276, the Local Communities and Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that aims to increase conservation efforts for declining bird populations. Read more here: conta.cc/4oqfJIo
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute NEMWI, GLFC hold Sea lamprey event, an updated manufacturing tracker, and hearings on the Hill NEMWI Weekly Update June 15th, 2026 GLFC Legislative Affair
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NEMWI updated its Federal Manufacturing Legislative Tracker with recent activity on new bills focused on semiconductor manufacturing, AI support, vehicle modernization, and hydro-energy technologies. NEMWI’s Manufacturing Legislative Tracker: www.nemw.org/manufacturin...
Northeast-Midwest Institute » Blog Archive » Federal Manufacturing Legislation Tracker, 2025-26
nemw.org
The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission hosted a live sea lamprey event on Capitol Hill. Attendees held sea lampreys and learned how the GLFC has reduced sea lamprey populations, preserving the $5.1 billion Great Lakes fishery. Read more: www.nemw.org/lamprey-even...
Northeast-Midwest Institute » Blog Archive » NEMWI and GLFC Host Lamprey Event on Capitol Hill
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The House Natural Resources Subcommittee considered H.R. 2406, a bipartisan bill to expand NOAA’s sexual harassment and assault response policies to cover contract employees currently excluded from certain protections. Read more: conta.cc/49PHe8h
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Sea lamprey event on Wednesday, House Approps advanced Interior-Environment bill, committees discuss NOAA legislation and the Blue Economy NEMWI Weekly Update
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Last week, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology reviewed EPA’s new OASES office. Lawmakers expressed concerns that administration priorities could undermine independent research and evidence-based policy. Read more here: conta.cc/49PHe8h
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Sea lamprey event on Wednesday, House Approps advanced Interior-Environment bill, committees discuss NOAA legislation and the Blue Economy NEMWI Weekly Update
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The Senate Commerce Committee hearing last week discussed lack of investment in coastal mapping. Last year, Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) introduced The Great Lakes Mapping Act of 2025, a $250M investment to map the Great Lakes. More here: www.nemw.org/issue-spotli...
nemw.org
Roughly 95 million Americans live in coastal counties along the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Great Lakes coasts. At #CHOW2026 last week, speakers explored the “blue economy” – drawing connections between the ocean’s health, marine heritage, and economic vitality. Read more:
Northeast-Midwest Institute@nemwinstitute.bsky.social · 2mo agoCapitol Hill Ocean Week 2026 celebrated its 25th anniversary last week, bringing together policymakers, fisheries professionals, and scientific leaders to discuss climate-driven pressures on ocean and coastal systems. Read NEMWI’s recap on #CHOW2026 here: conta.cc/49PHe8h
The House Appropriations Committee approved the FY2027 House Interior-Environment Appropriations bill, which will hit the EPA with a 20% decrease in funding from FY2026 but will fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $369M – equal to FY2026 levels. Read more: www.nemw.org/policy-outre...
Northeast-Midwest Institute » Appropriations for Key Regional Programs
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Panel “New Blue Revolutions: Age of Technology and Investment,” highlighted ocean data systems that collect life-saving information for coastal communities. At #CHOW2026, speakers emphasized the importance of cross-industry collaboration for innovation and marine data. Read more:
Northeast-Midwest Institute@nemwinstitute.bsky.social · 2mo agoCapitol Hill Ocean Week 2026 celebrated its 25th anniversary last week, bringing together policymakers, fisheries professionals, and scientific leaders to discuss climate-driven pressures on ocean and coastal systems. Read NEMWI’s recap on #CHOW2026 here: conta.cc/49PHe8h
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) reinstated her commitment to restoring the Blue Globe Act to bolster marine data collection and research on “life saving data,” in the panel “New Blue Revolutions: Age of Technology and Investment.” Read more on NEMWI’s recap of #CHOW2026 here:
Northeast-Midwest Institute@nemwinstitute.bsky.social · 2mo agoCapitol Hill Ocean Week 2026 celebrated its 25th anniversary last week, bringing together policymakers, fisheries professionals, and scientific leaders to discuss climate-driven pressures on ocean and coastal systems. Read NEMWI’s recap on #CHOW2026 here: conta.cc/49PHe8h
Capitol Hill Ocean Week 2026 celebrated its 25th anniversary last week, bringing together policymakers, fisheries professionals, and scientific leaders to discuss climate-driven pressures on ocean and coastal systems. Read NEMWI’s recap on #CHOW2026 here: conta.cc/49PHe8h
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Sea lamprey event on Wednesday, House Approps advanced Interior-Environment bill, committees discuss NOAA legislation and the Blue Economy NEMWI Weekly Update
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