Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) met with local port leaders on Friday to discuss current infrastructure projects and potential legislation.
Fred Shusterich, the president of Midwest Energy Resources Company, was included in the discussion. He said he left the meeting confident that Duffy would work diligently to secure a fair share of federal funding going forward to adequately address Great Lakes dredging and infrastructure needs.
The discussions included the status of dredging in the Great Lakes.
Duffy said the dredging is a priority issue since it is important to keep the waters navigable for cargo ships and freighters. He said he would keep a “close eye” on legislation that will enable companies to fully utilize vessels to make shipping as efficient and effective as possible.
The Senate passed its Water Resources Development Act on May 15 that included harbor dredging projects in the Great Lakes. The legislation awaits House action.
“The ports give the rest of the world the most direct access to the vast resources in the Great Lakes region,” Duffy said. “We need to make sure that never changes.”
The Senate bill also sets aside twenty percent of authorized harbor maintenance funds above fiscal 2012 levels for Great Lakes projects.