Representative Walberg Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Efforts
On September 28, 2026, Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), David Joyce (R-OH), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Hillary Scholten (D-MI) introduced the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill aims to enhance federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation. The legislation proposes designating the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Regional Ocean Partnerships Program. This designation is intended to ensure the Great Lakes region receives a fair share of program funding, thereby providing federal resources to support the GLC's ongoing work in coordinating Great Lakes research and conservation efforts. Companion legislation has also been advanced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).