By Laura Fine
I have lived most of my life near the shores of Lake Michigan. Over the years, the lake has enhanced my life, bringing me serenity, joy, and amazing memories. Spending long summer days on the beaches of Lake Michigan with my children, playing in the water, jumping waves, and building sandcastles on the shore bring back thoughts of happy times. Now, as a State Senator, it is my honor to give back to the lake that has provided so much for my family and me and to work to ensure that future generations can have those experiences too.
I am privileged to serve as the Chair of The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus (GLLC). We are a bi-national, nonpartisan organization of state and provincial legislators working together to create policies to protect and restore the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin. Members are from the eight states and two provinces in the Great Lakes region. We are the only Great Lakes organization whose members can enact laws at the state and provincial levels that will benefit our waterways and, as a result, our neighbors as well.
Together, we study the issues that impact our natural resources, share ideas, and then bring those ideas back to our states and provinces. Our work has a ripple effect; steps taken by one state or province flow to the rest of the region. Through my participation in the GLLC, I learned about the dangers of Coal Tar and PFAS and was able to pass legislation in Illinois to protect human and aquatic life. I and 153 other GLLC members are driven to protect our resources and advance the needs of the region, carrying our priorities forward to our federal partners.
Whether we are advocating for resources for lead service line replacements, studying the impacts of toxic substances on our water supply, or protecting the lakes from the spread of aquatic invasive species, members of the GLLC work closely with both federal governments and partner organizations. The region needs federal support to sustain progress and respond to emerging threats. Continued funding and reauthorization for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) is important to our members, and we support the priorities outlined in GLRI Action Plan IV.
It is critical that Congress passes legislation reauthorizing the GLRI. More than 40 million people in the United States and Canada rely on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River basin for drinking water, and they cannot afford uncertainty or inaction. Protecting our waters is also essential to our regional economic success; according to the United States Climate Resilience Tool Kit, our lakes support our economy with more than 1.5 million jobs and incredible economic and recreation opportunities.
The incredible collection of elected officials in the GLLC is proof of the unifying force of the Great Lakes across political party, country, and state/provincial lines. The lawmakers of the GLLC will continue our work to ensure our waterways survive and thrive. We know the strength of this region and the people who have worked together to get us this far. Let’s keep going.
Laura Fine has been a State Senator in Illinois since 2019, representing the 9th District, which includes Evanston, Glenview, and parts of northern Chicago. She was previously in the Illinois State House from 2013-19. She served as Vice-Chair of the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus from 2023-24, and as Chair since 2025.