I have just joined on to be a founding member of a new National Coastal Caucus of State Legislators, which includes all coastal and Great Lakes states.  The Coastal Caucus will provide a way for state legislators to work cooperatively with other states, their Governors, Congress and the Obama Administration on addressing national coastal and ocean policies that effect our environment, resources and economy.  
 
The group will include state legislators from all coastal states, including the Great Lakes, who would like to participate in this new Coastal Caucus.  Recognizing that coastal states share unique economic and environmental issues, this new caucus will allow legislators  to work together to influence the decisions that affect us at a regional and national level and serve as an important point of contact that does not currently exist for coastal state legislatures – similar to the Governors’ Coastal States Organization.