Tim Walberg (R-MI)
Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act of 2026. It was introduced in the House of Representatives on September 28, 2026. The main purpose of the bill is to designate the Great Lakes Commission as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership. The Commission includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It makes specific changes to the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +4
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Designating the Great Lakes Commission as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership supports regional cooperation and environmental management for the Great Lakes.
- Scored +3
Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests?
The bill formally designates the Great Lakes Commission to enhance regional governance and coordination across member states.
- Scored +3
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
The bill strengthens multi-state cooperation by officially recognizing the Great Lakes Commission as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2 designates the Great Lakes Commission as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership, which is a positive step because it includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that identify negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Designating the Great Lakes Commission as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership supports regional cooperation and environmental management for the Great Lakes. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — The bill formally designates the Great Lakes Commission to enhance regional governance and coordination across member states.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Improved regional management of the Great Lakes indirectly benefits communities throughout the participating member states. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Enhanced Great Lakes partnership coordination benefits residents across the urban and rural areas within the member states.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this leave more decisions to the states? — The bill strengthens multi-state cooperation by officially recognizing the Great Lakes Commission as a Regional Great Lakes Partnership.
- 11/11/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/28/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Tom BarrettRepublican · Michigan
Debbie DingellDemocrat · Michigan
Bill HuizengaRepublican · Michigan
David JoyceRepublican · Ohio
Marcy KapturDemocrat · Ohio
Nicholas LangworthyRepublican · New York
Frank MrvanDemocrat · Indiana
Haley StevensDemocrat · Michigan
Hillary ScholtenDemocrat · Michigan