On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, the NEMWI hosted its annual "Reception for the Northeast-Midwest Region" in the Capitol Visitors Center Atrium. Nearly 80 people attended, representing states, Congressional and Senate Offices, federal agencies, and regional organizations. The reception culminated a day of NEMWI Board meetings with Congressional Member offices and State offices. The meetings generated important new ideas and collaborations to help the NEMWI continue serving the region's need for unbiased, objective, and credible regional data and analysis. NEMW Coalition Co-Chairs Rep. Mike Kelly (OH), Rep. James McGovern (MA) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) spoke at the reception about the important work that the Coalition achieves with research support from the Institute. NEMWI Board Vice-Chair, Hon. John Baldacci, spoke about the day's meetings and future plans to continue the work of NEMWI in support of the region. 

For more information, and to be placed on next year's invitation list, contact Hope Ratner, Administrative Manager at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

NEMWI Welcomes New Board Member Vicky A. Bailey 

NEMWI's Great Lakes Hill Happenings: January 2014

The January 2014 edition of the Great Lakes Hill Happenings includes:

*       A summary of potential FY2014 Omnibus Budget impacts to the Great Lakes, including State Revolving Funds and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative;

*       An overview of options to prevent transfer of aquatic invasive species between basins in the Great Lakes-Mississippi River Interbasin Study;

*       Links to House and Senate Letters on FY2015 funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; and 

*       Upcoming Event Announcements, including the Great Lakes Congressional Breakfast on March 6, 2014.

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

House and Senate Great Lakes Task Forces Lead Efforts to Secure Funding for Great Lakes Navigation System

Last week, House and Senate Great Lakes Task Force leaders and delegation members sent letters to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Assistant Secretary of Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, requesting at least $30 million in additional funding for Great Lakes Navigation System projects. The funding would help relieve the current backlog in dredging and maintenance projects, exacerbated bylow lake levels in recent years. The Senate letter, led by Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chairs, Sens. Carl Levin (MI) and Mark Kirk (IL), was co-signed by 11 additional Great Lakes Task Force and delegation members. The House letter, led by Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chair Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-25) and delegation member Bill Huizenga (MI-02), was co-signed by the other three Great Lakes Task Force Co-Chairs, Reps. Candice Miller (MI-10), John Dingell (MI-12), and Sean Duffy (WI-07), with a total of 39 signatures.

For more information, contact Danielle Chesky, Director, Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute, or Sam Breene, Legislative Director at the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition.

Mississippi River Mayors Applaud Farm Bill Passage,
Secure Priorities

 

For more information, contact Colin Wellenkamp, Director, Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative or Mark Gorman, Policy Analyst at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.

Registration Open for Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop, March 5

The Brownfield Coalition of the Northeast will host the 5th annual Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop on March 5, 2014 in Jersey City, NJ. This year's theme is "Sustainability Deconstructed: Toward a Resilient Future." The Director of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Brownfields & Land Revitalization and the Executive Deputy Secretary of the PA Department of Environmental Protection will serve as keynote speakers.  

The day's panel topics will include:

*       Hardening infrastructure

*       Public-Private Partnerships

*       Energy Projects on Contaminated Sites

*       Waterfront Development in the Post-Sandy Era

*       Strategies for Creating Municipal Capacity for Development

For more information on the workshop and to register, click here.

For more information, contact Colleen Cain, Sr. Policy Analyst, at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.