Ann Arbor, Mich. – The Great Lakes Commission (GLC) today released its 2022 federal priorities, urging the Biden administration and Congress to invest in projects and programs that will protect the lakes and accelerate the national economy. The priorities are being shared in advance of Great Lakes Day, an annual event that brings together regional leaders and members of Congress who play a critical role in shaping Great Lakes policies. New this year, in collaboration with regional partners, the GLC will host a series of topical sessions on regional priorities throughout the week of February 28 through March 4, featuring remarks from state and local government officials and members of Congress.

“Harnessing the historic investments made in Great Lakes infrastructure, resiliency, and restoration through last year’s infrastructure legislation will address longstanding needs while creating jobs, fostering equity, protecting public health, and strengthening local communities,” said GLC Chair Todd L. Ambs of Wisconsin. “The Great Lakes Commission looks forward to working with our federal partners to continue building a strong and resilient Great Lakes region.”

In FY 2023, the GLC urges Congress and the Biden administration to: build a resilient Great Lakes basin; fully fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative; protect against invasive species; expand efforts to address harmful algal blooms; strengthen the Great Lakes Navigation System; upgrade infrastructure to ensure equitable access to clean and safe water; support coordinated regional science and data collection; and fund the GLC to fulfill its unique role in the region.

The GLC will meet with members of Congress and the federal government throughout the week to share these priorities. The GLC organizes Great Lakes Day annually to bring together the states, members of Congress and the federal government to raise awareness of Great Lakes issues. For more information on the GLC and its work, visit www.glc.org.

The Great Lakes Commission, led by chair Todd L. Ambs, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (retired), is a binational government agency established in 1955 to protect the Great Lakes and the economies and ecosystems they support. Its membership includes leaders from the eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC recommends policies and practices to balance the use, development, and conservation of the water resources of the Great Lakes and brings the region together to work on issues that no single community, state, province, or nation can tackle alone. Learn more at www.glc.org.