The NEMWI will host a Capitol Hill briefing about the overall role of the Army Corps in maintaining the Great Lakes Navigation System and restoring the  environment on Monday, March 23 at 2:15 pm in the Capitol Visitor Center, Senate Side, Room SVC-202. Speakers (TBD) will provide staff with specifics on the extent of the Great Lakes Navigation System, the level of support provided each year and how that factors into navigability, the many user groups, and the national impact of the maritime transportation system. Honorary cosponsors of this briefing are Senate Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chairs Sens. Senator Mark Kirk (IL) and Debbie Stabenow (MI), Senate Vice-Chairs Sens. Rob Portman (OH) and Amy Klobuchar (MN), and House Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Candice Miller (MI-10), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Sean Duffy (WI-07), & Louise Slaughter (NY-25). Due to restrictions within the Capitol Visitor Center, the briefing will not include a webinar component.

For more information, contact Danielle Chesky, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Members of the NEMW Congressional Coalition are circulating letters to fellow House members seeking their support for regionally-important programs. These letters, sent to leadership on the Appropriations Committee, communicate support for various programs and/or levels of funding. Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee members consider, among other aspects, the number of signatures and whether or not the letter is bipartisan. Some of the letters closed for signatures on March 13, but others are still circulating. They include:

• Manufacturing Extension Partnership: led by Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition Co-Chairs Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-03) and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02); requests at least level funding ($130 million in FY2015) and a reduction in the non-federal cost share from 2/3 to 1/2; sign-on deadline is March 19
• Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund: led by Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition Co-Chair Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), Coalition member Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-05), and delegation members Rep. Peter King (NY-02) and Rep. John Conyers (MI-13); requests critical funding for FY2016; sign-on deadline is March 18
• National Network for Manufacturing Innovation: led by NEMW delegation members Rep. Joe Kennedy (MA-04) and Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23); requests robust funding for FY2016; sign-on deadline is March 16
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: led by Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition Co-Chair Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02), Coalition members Rep. Peter Welch (VT-At Large) and Rep. Lou Barletta (PA-11), and delegation member Peter King (NY-02); requests the restoration of funding to a level no less than $4.7 billion; sign-on deadline is March 20
• Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: led by Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition Co-Chair Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) and member Rep. Michael Turner (OH-10); requests at least sustained funding in FY2016, following FY2015 funding at $12.5 million; sign-on deadline is March 18
• Economic Development Administration: led by Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition Co-Chair Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) with bipartisan support from Rep. John Duncan (TN-02); requests support for the President's FY2016 requested level of $273 million, $23 million above FY2015 levels; sign-on deadline is March 20.

The NEMWI tracks federal funding of these and other regionally-relevant programs here.

For more information, contact Danielle Chesky, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute, or Colleen Cain, Sr. Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Security and Sustainability Forum will host a webinar on Thursday, March 19 from 1:15-2:45 about NREL's research-based capabilities across a wide spectrum of renewable energy and energy efficiency focus areas. NREL's analysis informs various stakeholders on technological, environmental, policy and economic decisions as energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies advance from concept to commercial application to market penetration. NREL is interested in working with institutions and other team members to build upon and advance its own research efforts. Webinar participants will learn about NREL and work on such topics as site screening & assessment, net zero energy building design & retrofit, microgrid evaluations, transportation, and Energy Systems Integration capabilities. Register for the webinar here.