H.R. 10639: Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act of 2026

This bill would give the Great Lakes Commission a formal federal designation as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership.

What changes

• The bill amends an existing law related to regional partnerships.
• It specifically adds the Great Lakes Commission to the list of entities recognized as a regional partnership.
• The Commission is described as representing the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
• It also updates wording in the law so that the designated entity is clearly the Great Lakes partnership, and changes references from a single Great Lake to the Great Lakes generally.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill would officially recognize the Great Lakes Commission under federal law as the regional body for Great Lakes cooperation. That could affect how the federal government coordinates with the Commission on issues involving the Great Lakes region, such as environmental, water, transportation, or other regional planning matters, depending on how the existing law is used.

Relevant Companies

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