Matt Kaplan Nominated as Federal Co-Chair of Great Lakes Authority

An Experienced Leader
Kaplan has been a long-time advocate of Great Lakes ports, shipping, economic development and environmental protection. As a longtime member of Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur’s (D-OH-09) staff, Kaplan has worked on advancing the interests of the entire Great Lakes region in Congress and throughout the federal government. Kaplan assisted Congresswoman Kaptur in her leadership of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, the Bipartisan and Bicameral Great Lakes Task Force and in drafting the legislation to create the Great Lakes Authority. In that role, he worked with stakeholders from industry, labor, academia and communities across the Great Lakes on issues such as managing invasive species, marshaling federal resources for economic development and developing alternative energy opportunities. Kaplan also taught and mentored undergraduate students in a politics course at Oberlin College.
Kaplan currently serves as a senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council where he coordinates federal strategy on regenerative agriculture.
Top photo: Algoma Intrepid/Photo by Andrew Russell Photography
Ice Conditions Renew Calls for Additional U.S. Icebreaker on Great Lakes
Commercial shipping on the Great Lakes has slowed sharply just a few days into the 2026 navigation season, as ice conditions in the St. Marys River and Whitefish Bay halted vessel traffic and renewed... Read More
Maritime Administration Announces $488.6 Million in Port Infrastructure Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced $488.6 million in funding through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to support upgrades at ports across the country. The... Read More


