Advocacy
Policy Resolutions
The Great Lakes Commission occasionally will pass a resolution articulating its policy on a specific issue. Links to each of these resolutions are available below, organized by date of passage. Commissioners may vote to sunset a resolution after ten years; sunsetted resolutions have been removed from the website. For information on the implementation activities that are underway, contact Deputy Director Tom Crane, [email protected].
May 23-25, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2023 Semiannual Meeting, held May 23-25, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois, the following resolutions were adopted.
- Building on Progress through Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan IV
- Great Lakes Priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill Reauthorization
- Support for the Great Lakes Green Shipping Corridor Network
October 11-13, in Erie, Pennsylvania
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2022 Annual Meeting, held October 11-13, 2022, in Erie, Pennsyvlania, the following resolutions were adopted.
- Improving Capacity for Great Lakes Icebreaking
- Celebrating the 50th Anniversaries of the Clean Water Act and the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement
June 7-9, 2022, in Green Bay, Wisconsin
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2022 Semiannual Meeting, held June 7-9, 2022, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the following resolutions were adopted.
- Support for Short Sea Shipping on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System
- Safeguarding Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Water Resources Through the Support of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Programs and Partnerships
October 12-14, 2021, Online
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2021 Annual Meeting, held October 12-14, 2021, online, the following resolutions were adopted.
- Mercury Monitoring, Research, and Risk Reduction Efforts in the Great Lakes Basin
- Addressing Nutrient-Driven Algal Blooms in the Great Lakes Basin
- Promoting Climate Resilience in the Great Lakes Basin
- U.S. Federal Investments to Improve Great Lakes Infrastructure
- Resolution of Recognition and Appreciation for 35 Years of Service
November 17-19, 2020, Online
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2020 Annual Meeting, held November 17-19, 2020, online, the following resolution was adopted.
October 9-11, 2019, in Québec City, Québec
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2019 Annual Meeting, held October 9-11 in Québec City, Québec, the following resolutions were adopted.
- Support for Congressional Reauthorization of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
- Related to the Public Health Risk from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Regional Action to Bolster Collaboration
- Great Lakes Commission Commitment to Implement Blue Accounting Principles
- Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Québec’s and Ontario’s Declaration of Partnership with the Great Lakes Commission and the Great Lakes Basin Compact
May 21-23, 2019, in Ann Arbor, Michigan
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2019 Semiannual Meeting, held May 21-23 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the following resolution was adopted.
October 2-3, 2018, in Indianapolis, Indiana
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2018 Annual Meeting, held October 2-3 in Indianapolis, Indiana, the following resolution was adopted.
March 6-7, 2018, in Washington, D.C.
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2018 Semiannual Meeting, held March 6-7, the following resolutions were adopted.
- Great Lakes Priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill Reauthorization
- Supporting Growth of the Cruising Industry in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region
- U.S.-Canada Trade Integration and the Benefits of Cross-Border Trade
September 19-20, 2017, in Duluth, Minnesota
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2017 Annual Meeting, held September 19-20 in Duluth, Minnesota, the following resolution was adopted.
- Addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concerning the Great Lakes Basin
- A Joint Action Plan for Clean Water Infrastructure and Services in the Great Lakes Region
March 14-15, 2017, in Washington, D.C.
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2017 Semiannual Meeting, held March 14-15 in Washington, D.C., the following resolution was adopted.
October 6-7, 2016, in Toronto, Ontario
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2016 Annual Meeting, held Oct. 6-7 in Toronto, Ontario, the following resolutions have been adopted.
- Endorsing and supporting implementation of the Governors’ and Premiers’ Maritime Strategy
- Providing and maintaining clean water infrastructure and services in the Great Lakes Basin
Jul. 27, 2016, via conference call
By action of the eight Great Lakes states in a special meeting of the Great Lakes Commission, held via conference call on July 27, 2016, the following resolutions have been adopted.
- Maintaining Safe and Sustainable Drinking Water and Infrastructure in the Great Lakes Basin
- Support for reauthorization of the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act
Feb. 23-24, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2016 Seminnual Meeting, held Feb. 23-24 in Washington, D.C., the following resolutions have been adopted.
Sept. 28-29, 2015, in Chicago, Illinois
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2015 Annual Meeting, held Sept. 28-29 in Chicago, Ill., the following resolutions have been adopted.
- Support for prohibiting the import of harmful aquatic invasive species
- Advancing coastal community revitalization through strengthened federal legislation and programs
- Healing the fractured urban water cycle through integrated water management
- A Joint Action Plan for Lake Erie
Feb. 24-25, 2015, in Washington, D.C.
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2015 Semiannual Meeting, held on Feb. 24-25 in Washington, D.C., the following resolutions have been adopted.
- Updating the accuracy of the International Great Lakes Datum (IGLD)
- Issues surrounding crude oil transportation in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin
Sept. 29-30, 2014, in Buffalo, New York
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2014 Annual Meeting, held on Sept. 30 in Buffalo, N.Y., the following resolutions have been adopted.
- Lake Erie water pollution and drinking water crisis
- Flexibility in the federal standard for navigation dredging projects in the Great Lakes basin
- Establishing Blue Accounting: A collaborative re-engineering of Great Lakes information strategy and delivery
Mar. 4-6, 2014, in Washington, D.C.
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2014 Semiannual Meeting, held on Mar. 4-6, in Washington, D.C., the following resolutions have been adopted.
Sept. 9, 2013, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2013 Annual Meeting, held on Sept. 9 in Milwaukee, Wis., the following resolutions have been adopted.
- Support for Great Lakes offshore wind demonstration (pilot) projects
- Preventing pollution from persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals in the Great Lakes ecosystem
- Recognizing rivermouths: Places vital to the Great Lakes basin that deserve focused restoration and conservation
Sept. 10-11, 2012, in Cleveland, Ohio
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2012 Annual Meeting, held on Sept. 10-11, in Cleveland, Ohio, the following resolutions have been adopted.
Feb. 27-28, 2012, in Washington, D.C.
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2012 Semiannual Meeting, held on Feb. 27-29, in Washington, D.C., the following resolutions have been adopted.
Sep. 29-30, 2009, in Erie, Pennsylvania
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2009 Annual Meeting, held on Sep. 29-30, in Erie, Pennsylvania, the following resolution has been adopted.
Oct. 1-2, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois
By action of the eight Great Lakes states at the Great Lakes Commission’s 2007 Annual Meeting, held on Oct. 1-2, in Chicago, Ill., the following resolutions have been adopted.