Name of person making nomination
Anne Lewis
State Commission
Minnesota
Phone
(410) 493-0362
Name of Nominee (Individual, Organization or Community)
National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
Nominee Address
1100 H Street NW
Suite 600
Washington, District of Columbia 20005
United States
Nominee Phone
(248) 808-2929
Nominee Email
Describe the history of involvement of the nominee in issues relating to the Great River Road, the Mississippi River, or a river community.
The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators was founded in 1996 as a bipartisan informal network of state legislators. It became a 501(c) 3 in 2007 and is governed by a board of sitting legislators. Today it coordinates over 1,200 state legislators around regional and issue-specific projects.
NCEL aligns with MRPC in two issue areas: Its Mississippi River Legislative Caucus has ties to NCEL’s Sustainable Agriculture and Water program area and to its Outdoor Recreation area. In these two areas, Mississippi River legislators and NCEL staff share information on issues, visit locations along the river that are examples of best practices, and meet periodically to share progress updates. For example: One of the goals of the MRLCis to create a regional forum for collaboration on growing communities and local economies. To this end, MRLC members will visit the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge to learn about restoration projects that have been good for the Mississippi Flyway, but also for surrounding communities. Our own Sabrina Chandler manages this refuge and has already shared this important issue area with our members through a virtual MRPC meeting. The more state legislators can share information on how Mississippi River fish and wildlife can benefit local economies and local communities’ well being, the stronger travel will become on the Great River Road.
Please state examples of enhancing the environment, agriculture, recreation, and/or transportation on or along the Great River Road.
- Wisconsin legislation to waive state park fees for Every Kid Outdoors passes, thereby increasing family travel on Great River Roads to river recreation in state parks.
- Minnesota legislation to create an Outdoor Recreation Office
- Mississippi legislation to create a state Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund
- Iowa legislation making appropriations for outdoor education and recreation programming for youth.
- Arkansas legislation for the Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism to authorize appropriations for the State Parks and Tourism Division where several Interpretive Centers reside.
These are all state examples of work that indirectly or directly impacts travel and public engagement on the Great River Road.
References
Contact #1 Name
Sen. David Senjem
Contact #1 Phone
(507) 319-7627
Contact #1 Email
[email protected]
Contact #2 Name
Rep. Jill Billings (WI)
Contact #3 Name
Sen. Rob Hogg (Iowa)