Policy and Communications

GLC Federal Priorities and Great Lakes Shared Priorities

GLC Federal Priorities 2026

Presented to the 119th U.S. Congress: March 2026  |  Download PDF

The Great Lakes Commission’s 2026 Federal Priorities reflect well-established needs and opportunities for strengthening the economic and environmental health of the Great Lakes basin. They enjoy broad support among state and local leaders, business and industry, and the environmental community.

Updated: Great Lakes Investment Tracker

The Great Lakes Investment Tracker is an interactive mapping application developed by the Great Lakes Commission to showcase federally-funded projects in Great Lakes states. Visit the tracker here!

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Shared Priorities for the Great Lakes: Protecting and Restoring North America’s Largest Water System

Joint Priorities Statement: March 2026 |  Download PDF

Restoring and protecting the Great Lakes is an enduring, bipartisan priority for the nation and for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin communities. Our organizations support these priorities to ensure the Great Lakes are a source of drinking water, an environmental treasure, and an economic engine now and into the future.

These 2026 shared Great Lakes priorities are endorsed by the Great Lakes Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Chippewa Ottawa Resource Authority, Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition, American Great Lakes Ports Association, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus, Great Lakes Business Network, and Lake Carriers’ Association.

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State Fact Sheets: Great Lakes Investments at Work

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is supporting the implementation of a comprehensive cleanup plan that has been broadly endorsed by the region’s governors, Indigenous Nations, cities, conservation groups, business and industry.

• Illinois
• Indiana
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin

State Fact Sheets: Protecting the Durability of State Revolving Funds

The U.S. federal government provides significant annual funding for water infrastructure, most notably through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs). SRFs are revolving loan funds administered by state governments through federally approved intended use plans (IUPs). Learn more about each state at the links below.

• Illinois
• Indiana 
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• New York 
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin 

Contact

For questions or media inquiries, please contact Beth Wanamaker, [email protected].