U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) led 27 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in requesting that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers include construction funds for a new lock at the Upper Peninsula’s Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., in its 2019 work plan.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, S. 3021, which includes authorization to build the second freighter-sized lock at the Soo Locks, although the exact amount of federal funds will need to be appropriated at a later date, according to the White House.
“We write to you regarding the Army Corps of Engineers fiscal year 2019 (FY2019) work plan and urge you to include funding for the construction of a new lock,” wrote Rep. Moolenaar and his fellow lawmakers in an Oct. 12 letter sent to R.D. James, assistant secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, the Corps’ commanding general and chief of engineers.
“Ensuring the Soo Locks are safe, reliable and efficient, now and into the future, is vital to our economy and national security,” wrote the members, who added that risks must be reduced regarding operation of the almost 50-year-old Poe Lock.
On average, according to their letter, 80 million tons of cargo annually transit the Soo Locks. “The need for a second Poe-sized lock was first identified and authorized in 1986,” the congressmen wrote. “To this day, that need remains – as identified by President Trump in April 2018.”
Joining Rep. Moolenaar in signing the bipartisan letter were U.S. Reps. Mike Bishop (R-MI), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Fred Upton (R-MI), Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), among others.
“The Soo Locks are Nationally Critical Infrastructure due to their economic importance and impact on national security,” wrote the lawmakers. “We urge you to include $74 million in the FY2019 work plan to resume design efforts and begin construction of a second Poe-sized lock.”
That amount also would allow lock construction to start one shipping season earlier, according to the Corps, saving roughly $30 million in costs, the members wrote.
The 2019 Army Corps work plan lists the Corps’ upcoming priorities and must be submitted to Congress by Nov. 20, according to the members.