Making Our Mark on Capitol Hill: Advocating for the Great Lakes and National Parks

After an energizing and fast-paced week in Washington, D.C., I’m reflecting on the impact our team made as we advocated for the future of our Great Lakes and national parks. As the Senior Midwest Regional Director for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), I also serve as one of the co-chairs of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition, a robust network of nearly 200 organizations working together to ensure clean water, thriving communities and resilient ecosystems throughout the Great Lakes basin.

In these capacities, I had the privilege of joining bipartisan colleagues and partners in a full-force advocacy push, one that took us from congressional offices to embassies, from strategic planning sessions to direct action.

With a dozen meetings packed into just a few days, we hit the ground running. Our NPCA team descended upon the nation’s capital alongside our government affairs powerhouse, Emily Douce, and our communications strategist, Alison Heis, to sharpen our campaign plans, build key relationships, and urge members of Congress to take bold action on the issues that matter most:

• Stopping National Park Service Workforce Reductions: The very people who protect and interpret our parks are facing deep staffing cuts. We made sure decision-makers understood what’s at stake — not just for our beloved rangers and park operations, but also for the visitor experience and resource protection.
• Reauthorizing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI): As one of the most successful environmental programs in the country, GLRI has funded thousands of projects that clean up toxic hotspots, restore habitat and improve water quality across the region, which is one of the most significant freshwater systems in the world. We pushed for strong, bipartisan support to ensure this work continues.
• Investing in Great Lakes Restoration and Water Infrastructure: From aging drinking water systems to stormwater runoff challenges, the need for federal investment in water infrastructure is urgent. We made the case that protecting our waters is both an economic and public health imperative because the Great Lakes provide drinking water to 30 million Americans and support recreation, power generation, fishing, timber, agriculture and other industries.
• Strengthening Clean Water Protections: The Clean Water Act has driven decades of progress, but recent rollbacks threaten those gains. We pushed for stronger protections to ensure safe, accessible water for the millions who depend on the Great Lakes.

Turning Challenges into Advocacy Opportunities

This trip wasn’t without its challenges. We arrived in D.C. amid a wave of staff cuts to the National Park Service and the threat of a possible government shutdown. But we leveraged these moments, using them as urgent messages in our discussions with congressional offices and executive officials. These weren’t just policy conversations; they were calls to action.

One of the most powerful aspects of our advocacy was amplifying site-specific stories. Whether it was about the economic benefits of Indiana Dunes National Park to the region, the restoration work of piping plover at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park, or the urgent need to address harmful algal blooms on Lake Erie, we made sure each conversation was rooted in specific impacts. These stories resonate with people and our elected officials who represent us, and they plant the seed for change.

A Special Moment at the Canadian Embassy

One of the highlights of the week was speaking at the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Reception of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition held at the Canadian Embassy. This annual event is an opportune moment to unite with partners, share strategies and celebrate the binational collaboration that makes Great Lakes protection possible.

Our coalition has long been at the forefront of securing critical investments and calling for policies that protect these waters for future generations. The Great Lakes are healthier than they were a generation ago, thanks to the dedication of people in government, advocacy, science and communities.

It was an honor to celebrate NPCA’s role in this fight and hear from so many allies who are equally committed to protecting our waters. National parks are a uniting force across the United States. My key message was to remind our partners that when we work together across agencies, across sectors and across nations, we make a greater impact — our waters are cleaner and our communities are stronger.

What’s Next?

My time in D.C. reminded me and my colleagues that advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. Every conversation we have, every relationship we build and every commitment we secure brings us closer to lasting policy wins. And while we made an impact on Capitol Hill, the work doesn’t stop here. We’re bringing these fights back to the Midwest — mobilizing communities, engaging supporters and keeping up the pressure until we see real action.

The Great Lakes fuel local economies, provide drinking water for millions, and support communities that depend on them for jobs, recreation and cultural heritage. If you’re inspired by the work NPCA is doing to protect this amazing resource, as well as our work to protect park staff, now is the time to get involved. Whether it’s writing to your representatives, attending local meetings or speaking up for our parks and the Great Lakes, your voice makes a difference. Visit NPCA’s “take action” webpage to learn more.

The Great Lakes and our national parks belong to all of us. Let’s keep showing up, speaking out and making sure they get the protection they deserve.