Northeast-Midwest Institute
@nemwinstitute.bsky.social
Nonprofit, nonpartisan research, and policy organization in DC. Promoting economic and environmental vitality for the 18 Northeastern and Midwestern states.
The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries discussed the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025, sponsored by Rep. Dingell, last Wednesday. Learn more about the Urban Bird Treaty Program here:
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Committees hold hearings on water infrastructure cybersecurity, migratory birds, and more NEMWI Weekly Update February 9th, 2026 NEMWI Updates Manufactur
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February 11, 2026 at 5:24 PM
The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries discussed the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act of 2025, sponsored by Rep. Dingell, last Wednesday. Learn more about the Urban Bird Treaty Program here:
NEMWI has updated its Manufacturing Legislative Tracker to include new pieces of legislation. At the center is a focus on biotechnology, but additions include fields such as data centers, brownfields, housing, and infrastructure. Find the tracker here: www.nemw.org/manufacturin...
Northeast-Midwest Insititute » Blog Archive » Federal Manufacturing Legislation Tracker, 2025-26
www.nemw.org
February 10, 2026 at 5:03 PM
NEMWI has updated its Manufacturing Legislative Tracker to include new pieces of legislation. At the center is a focus on biotechnology, but additions include fields such as data centers, brownfields, housing, and infrastructure. Find the tracker here: www.nemw.org/manufacturin...
Since the start of his term, the Trump administration has greatly reduced the size of the federal bureaucracy. Take a look at how these policies impact the Great Lakes region, a year in:
Northeast-Midwest Insititute » Blog Archive » How the Trump Administration Has Reshaped the Federal Workforce, One Year In
Since January 20, 2025, the Trump administration has initiated a broad effort to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy. Federal employment has dropped by 219,922 positions over the last 12…
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February 5, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Since the start of his term, the Trump administration has greatly reduced the size of the federal bureaucracy. Take a look at how these policies impact the Great Lakes region, a year in:
Last month, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee held a hearing on a proposed revision of the Toxic Substance Control Act. Find out how this would impact the EPA’s evaluation of hazardous materials here:
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute The federal workforce, one year into the Trump Administration; Energy and Commerce Committee holds TSCA hearing NEMWI Weekly Update February 2nd, 2026 How
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February 4, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Last month, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee held a hearing on a proposed revision of the Toxic Substance Control Act. Find out how this would impact the EPA’s evaluation of hazardous materials here:
The House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains held a hearing on the construction of AI data centers in rural America. Read more here:
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute New EPA regulatory approach, Senators send letter on Brandon Road, House Committee holds hearing on data centers NEMWI Weekly Update January 26th, 2026 EP
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January 29, 2026 at 5:24 PM
The House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains held a hearing on the construction of AI data centers in rural America. Read more here:
Senators from Illinois and Michigan sent a letter to OMB and the Army Corps urging the end to an administrative review that is holding up the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. Read the letter here:
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January 28, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Senators from Illinois and Michigan sent a letter to OMB and the Army Corps urging the end to an administrative review that is holding up the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. Read the letter here:
The EPA announced it will no longer consider the monetization of health benefits for fine particulate matter and ozone. This comes after an order for federal agencies to stop considering costs of carbon, with few exceptions. More on NEMWI's EPA tracker:
Northeast-Midwest Insititute » Blog Archive » Environmental Protection Agency Tracker
Major changes impacting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Trump administration have prompted NEMWI to develop a tracker to monitor changes in EPA policies and programs concerning…
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January 28, 2026 at 5:24 PM
The EPA announced it will no longer consider the monetization of health benefits for fine particulate matter and ozone. This comes after an order for federal agencies to stop considering costs of carbon, with few exceptions. More on NEMWI's EPA tracker:
The Trump administration has expanded hunting and fishing within the refuge system under the Hunt Fish Rule. In an oversight hearing, the House Natural Resources Committee met to discuss maintenance of the National Wildlife Refuge System and sportsmen’s access to it. Read more here:
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Appropriations bills progress, committee hearings, and a NEMWI Issue Spotlight NEMWI Weekly Update January 21st, 2026 Senate Passes Minibus, Tees Up More
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January 27, 2026 at 8:29 PM
The Trump administration has expanded hunting and fishing within the refuge system under the Hunt Fish Rule. In an oversight hearing, the House Natural Resources Committee met to discuss maintenance of the National Wildlife Refuge System and sportsmen’s access to it. Read more here:
5 Great Lakes Task Force members gave testimony in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing last week, voicing support for water infrastructure and WRDA and Army Corps projects. Read more here: conta.cc/4qWiNw0
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Appropriations bills progress, committee hearings, and a NEMWI Issue Spotlight NEMWI Weekly Update January 21st, 2026 Senate Passes Minibus, Tees Up More
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January 27, 2026 at 5:26 PM
5 Great Lakes Task Force members gave testimony in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure hearing last week, voicing support for water infrastructure and WRDA and Army Corps projects. Read more here: conta.cc/4qWiNw0
The Senate passed a package of appropriations bills, sending them to the President’s desk. The bill increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and rejects proposed cuts to NOAA and the EPA. Read NEMWI’s Great Lakes analysis here:
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January 22, 2026 at 5:24 PM
The Senate passed a package of appropriations bills, sending them to the President’s desk. The bill increases funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and rejects proposed cuts to NOAA and the EPA. Read NEMWI’s Great Lakes analysis here:
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We know less about the bottom of the Great Lakes than the surface of Mars. But Lakebed 2030 is seeking to change that, creating benefits for the ecosystem and economy of the region in the process. Read more here:
Northeast-Midwest Insititute » Blog Archive » Issue Spotlight: Great Lakes Mapping
By Rachael Stein, Northeast-Midwest Institute Intern and Graduate Student at the University of Colorado at Boulder
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January 21, 2026 at 2:15 PM
We know less about the bottom of the Great Lakes than the surface of Mars. But Lakebed 2030 is seeking to change that, creating benefits for the ecosystem and economy of the region in the process. Read more here:
Thanks to @repjackbergman.bsky.social for kicking off the NEMWI and @marinesanctuary.bsky.social event on Great Lakes Marine Sanctuaries! Attendees heard from Rep. Bergman and the rest of our panelists and got to experience marine sanctuaries in VR!
Read more: www.nemw.org/foundation-1...
Read more: www.nemw.org/foundation-1...
January 20, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Thanks to @repjackbergman.bsky.social for kicking off the NEMWI and @marinesanctuary.bsky.social event on Great Lakes Marine Sanctuaries! Attendees heard from Rep. Bergman and the rest of our panelists and got to experience marine sanctuaries in VR!
Read more: www.nemw.org/foundation-1...
Read more: www.nemw.org/foundation-1...
NEMWI and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will host a briefing on Great Lakes marine sanctuaries next Wednesday, on December 17th, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2168. RSVP to Diane Dotson at ddotson@marinesanctuary.org.
December 8, 2025 at 7:01 PM
NEMWI and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will host a briefing on Great Lakes marine sanctuaries next Wednesday, on December 17th, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2168. RSVP to Diane Dotson at ddotson@marinesanctuary.org.
Today is Giving Tuesday! If you are so inclined, you can donate to support NEMWI’s critical policy education work here:
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December 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Today is Giving Tuesday! If you are so inclined, you can donate to support NEMWI’s critical policy education work here:
The Senate passed the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act on November 19. The bill seeks to reauthorize the U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Fishery Research program, until 2030. For more, see NEMWI’s Great Lakes and Water Policy Legislative Tracker here: buff.ly/TWUopGs
December 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Senate passed the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act on November 19. The bill seeks to reauthorize the U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Fishery Research program, until 2030. For more, see NEMWI’s Great Lakes and Water Policy Legislative Tracker here: buff.ly/TWUopGs
Michigan lawmakers Rep. Debbie Dingell and Rep. Tim Walberg introduced H.R. 6053, the Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill would authorize $500 million over 10 years for the U.S section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. More here:
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Senate passes Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act, Dingell, Walberg introduce mussel bill NEMWI Weekly Update November 24th, 2025 Senate Pass
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November 26, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Michigan lawmakers Rep. Debbie Dingell and Rep. Tim Walberg introduced H.R. 6053, the Save Great Lakes Fish Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill would authorize $500 million over 10 years for the U.S section of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission. More here:
Senators Todd Young and Amy Klobuchar led a Senate resolution on the 50th anniversary of the loss of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald recognizing the 29 crew members who died during one of the worst storms ever recorded on the Great Lakes.
The resolution can be found here:
The resolution can be found here:
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November 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Senators Todd Young and Amy Klobuchar led a Senate resolution on the 50th anniversary of the loss of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald recognizing the 29 crew members who died during one of the worst storms ever recorded on the Great Lakes.
The resolution can be found here:
The resolution can be found here:
The Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discussed U.S. shipbuilding. China outpaced the U.S. in building large commercial vessels this year, but Wisconsin and other Great Lakes states stand ready to increase production. More here:
Correction: New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Marine Sanctuaries Event on December 17th NEMWI Weekly Update November 4th, 2025 NEMWI To Host Event on Great Lakes Marine Sanctuaries: CORRECTION and NEW
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November 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The Senate Subcommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discussed U.S. shipbuilding. China outpaced the U.S. in building large commercial vessels this year, but Wisconsin and other Great Lakes states stand ready to increase production. More here:
Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline has been granted a federal permit to re-route the pipeline in northern Wisconsin. The state permits remain held up in Wisconsin courts. More here:
Correction: New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Marine Sanctuaries Event on December 17th NEMWI Weekly Update November 4th, 2025 NEMWI To Host Event on Great Lakes Marine Sanctuaries: CORRECTION and NEW
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November 8, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline has been granted a federal permit to re-route the pipeline in northern Wisconsin. The state permits remain held up in Wisconsin courts. More here:
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works advanced the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act last Wednesday, following progress in the House earlier this year. Read more in a press release here:
Senator Peters’ Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Fishery Research and Management Passes Committee | U.S. Senator Gary Peters of Michigan
WASHINGTON, DC – Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) to bolster Great...
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November 6, 2025 at 10:01 PM
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works advanced the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act last Wednesday, following progress in the House earlier this year. Read more in a press release here:
NEMWI released a report exploring local governments in legacy cities in the northeast-midwest region of the United States. Read the report here:
Northeast-Midwest Insititute » Blog Archive » Report: Legacy Cities Local Governance
The Northeast-Midwest Institute has released a report that explores some defining characteristics and persistent challenges of local governments in the legacy cities of the northeastern and…
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November 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
NEMWI released a report exploring local governments in legacy cities in the northeast-midwest region of the United States. Read the report here:
NEMWI and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will host a briefing on Great Lakes marine sanctuaries on Wednesday, December 17th, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2168. RSVP to Diane Dotson at ddotson@marinesanctuary.org.
November 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM
NEMWI and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation will host a briefing on Great Lakes marine sanctuaries on Wednesday, December 17th, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2168. RSVP to Diane Dotson at ddotson@marinesanctuary.org.
The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing on October 23rd. Most of the questions revolved around regulation of chemicals. Read more here:
New Weekly Update from NEMWI
Email from Northeast-Midwest Institute Representatives request Great Lakes icebreaker, legislative updates, and the Great Lakes Fishery Reauthorization Act gets a Senate markup. Plus: the Interior RIF
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November 1, 2025 at 6:02 PM
The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing on October 23rd. Most of the questions revolved around regulation of chemicals. Read more here:
On October 21, 2025, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced IOOS and Digital Coast reauthorization bills.
For more updates, find NEMWI’s Great Lakes and Water Policy Legislative Tracker here:
For more updates, find NEMWI’s Great Lakes and Water Policy Legislative Tracker here:
Northeast-Midwest Insititute » Blog Archive » Federal Great Lakes and Water Legislation Tracker, 2025-26
Updated as of October 27th, 2025
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October 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
On October 21, 2025, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced IOOS and Digital Coast reauthorization bills.
For more updates, find NEMWI’s Great Lakes and Water Policy Legislative Tracker here:
For more updates, find NEMWI’s Great Lakes and Water Policy Legislative Tracker here:
After previously issuing a TRO in the case, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston has now ordered a preliminary injunction, blocking the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the shutdown. These include employees at the Department of the Interior, mapped below.
October 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
After previously issuing a TRO in the case, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston has now ordered a preliminary injunction, blocking the Trump administration from firing federal employees during the shutdown. These include employees at the Department of the Interior, mapped below.