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NEMWI Co-Hosts Annual Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast Reception
The Northeast-Midwest Institute and the Great Lakes Commission co-hosted the annual Congressional Great Lakes Breakfast Reception on March 5, 2020, in conjunction with the annual Great Lakes Washington Day, the largest annual DC advocacy day supporting the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes. This year saw record attendance with more than 200 attendees representing a wide scope of organizations. Eighteen bipartisan members of the Great Lakes Congressional delegation attended the breakfast and discussed some of the key critical issues impacting the health of the Great Lakes at the federal level. Among the topics that were discussed were the funding and reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the prevention of the spread of invasive species like Asian carp through key projects like the Brandon Road and Dam proposal, high Great Lakes water levels and resiliency issues, critical maritime and infrastructure projects including the modernization of the Soo Locks, drinking water protections from contaminants like PFAS/PFOA, and many other critical issues. In additional, members of the Canadian Parliament and Senate were also in attendance at this year's breakfast.
U.S. Congressional Members in attendance at the breakfast included Senate Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chairs Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and Vice-Chair Todd Young (R-IN); House Great Lakes Task Co-Chairs Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Dave Joyce (R-OH); Senate Great Lakes Task Force members Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mike Braun (R-IN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Tina Smith (D-MN); and House Great Lakes Task Force members Jack Bergman (R-MI), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Andy Levin (D-MI), Joseph Morelle (D-NY), and Brad Schneider (D-IL).
Please contact Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program,
Matthew McKenna, for more information.
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Senate Republicans Introduce Missouri River Flooding Bill
Senate Republicans on Thursday, March 5, introduced S.3403, entitled the "Lower Missouri River Flood Prevention Program Act." This bill would require the Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate flood risks and current methods of protection along the Missouri and to develop a more comprehensive program of improving flood resilience. The bill authorizes a budget of $500 million for executing these programs but requires congressional approval for any projects that cost more than $75 million. The chief sponsor of the bill, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), said in a statement that, "We can't just sit by and wait for the next major flood event."
While the bill directs the Army Corps to construct water resources development projects to increase flood resilience, the bill does not specify what kinds of projects the Army Corps should focus on. The bill makes no mention of considering or prioritizing "green infrastructure" methods which have been generally found to be more cost effective and environmentally friendly methods of flood protection. Traditional methods of "gray infrastructure," such as levees or flood walls, have been shown to increase flood risks of downriver communities.
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Senate Works on Energy Bill with Plans to Move to Permanent Conservation Funding Next
The Senate this week looks to finish up a bipartisan energy bill, the American Energy Innovation Act, which passed some key procedural votes last week. The energy package includes numerous provisions aimed at strengthening national security, increasing international competitiveness, and investing in clean energy technologies. While the bill largely has bipartisan support, Senators are still working on a slate of potential amendments to the bill, which could range from new energy efficiency building codes to phasing-out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in home and commercial appliances.
After the energy bill, it is expected that the Senate could move forward with a package that includes legislation permanently funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and legislation reducing a $20 billion maintenance backlog in national parks and on public lands. The bill would fund the LWCF, and is currently subject to Congressional appropriations, at its full authorization of $900 million annually, while also providing critical new resources through a new five-year trust fund to four Interior Department agencies and the Forest Service to address backlogs at the nation's parks, public lands, and wildlife refuges.
Please contact Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program,
Matthew McKenna, for more information.
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NEMWI: Strengthening the Region that Sustains the Nation
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