NEMWI Weekly Update
January 31st, 2022
https://www.nemw.org/wp-content/themes/NEMW_ATTCK/images/nemw_logo.png
NEMWI Co-Hosts Webinar on Smart Great Lakes

The Northeast-Midwest Institute (NEMWI), along with the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), hosted a webinar on the Smart Great Lakes Initiative last week.
The Smart Great Lakes Initiative, which was formed by a binational group of Great Lakes organizations in 2019, seeks to advance technology applications that improve our understanding, use, conservation, and management of the Great Lakes. The use of these technologies in the Great Lakes could help address some of the most challenging issues that the region currently faces. These issues range from safeguarding drinking water and understanding changing shorelines to tracking the long-term effects of climate change.

In October 2021, the Smart Great Lakes Initiative released its Common Strategy for Smart Great Lakes, which charts a course for how the Initiative will advance technology applications that improve our understanding of our relationship with the Great Lakes.

Participants at the webinar included Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12); Matt McKenna, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program, Northeast-Midwest Institute; Kelli Paige, Executive Director, Great Lakes Observing System, Commission; Kimberly Neely Du Buclet, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Board of Commissioners; Joel Brammeier, President and CEO, the Alliance for the Great Lakes; and Dr. J. Val Klump, professor and dean of the School of Freshwater Sciences at UW-Milwaukee.

To watch a recording of the webinar, please visit here. 
NEMWI Unveils Watershed Conservation
Legislative Tracker
 
NEMWI’s newest legislative tracker keeps tabs on bills about watershed conservation in the 18 states of the northeast and midwest.  Of particular note recently is U.S. Representative Paul Tonko (D-NY-20)’s New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act, which seeks to protect waters that empty into New York-New Jersey Harbor.  In the past month, that bill has had a subcommittee hearing, and a Senate companion bill has been introduced.  Also, U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21) has introduced a bill that would include the Lawrence River in “the scope of functions of the Center of Expertise for Great Lakes Oil Spill Preparedness and Response.”  

In total, there are 13 bills in the tracker thus far, including seven in the House, and six in the Senate.  One bill, H.R. 803, a combination of several conservation bills, has passed the House. Explore the tracker here: 
Follow the Northeast-Midwest Institute on Twitter
 
FOLLOW us on Twitter! The Northeast-Midwest Institute is on Twitter with new updates and information on its regional research and policy education program and with announcements for upcoming briefings and events. NEMWI is posting our research reports on current regional issues and ongoing policy education on the page to make keeping up with our policy work easier than ever. The Institute also is updating the page with announcements of upcoming policy briefings and webinars. NEMWI is excited for the opportunity to connect with as many people as possible on our Twitter page.
 
Please check out our Twitter page here or by searching @NEMWInstitute. And be sure to FOLLOW us to keep up to date with NEMWI on Twitter!
Follow the Northeast-Midwest Institute on Facebook
 
LIKE us on Facebook! The Northeast-Midwest Institute is on Facebook with new updates and information on its regional research and policy education program and with announcements for upcoming briefings and events. NEMWI is posting our research reports on current regional issues and ongoing policy education on the page to make keeping up with our policy work easier than ever. The Institute also is updating the page with announcements of upcoming policy briefings and webinars. NEMWI is excited for the opportunity to connect with as many people as possible on our Facebook page.
 
Please check out our Facebook page here. And be sure to LIKE us to begin following NEMWI on Facebook!
This Week in Washington
‌
In the House:

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 | 10:00 AM | Washington Host: Committee on Agriculture | Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2022 |1:30 PM Host: Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Thursday, February 3rd, 2022 |10:00 AM | 1324 Longworth HOB | Host: Committee on Natural Resources | Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands

In the Senate:

Tuesday, Feb 2nd, 2022 2:30 PM – SR-301 | Host: Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Wednesday, Feb 9th, 2022 10:00 AM – SD-366 | Host: Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks
Notheast-Midwest Institute | nemw.org