The Warren Sun

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Representative John James' first bill, the Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023. The legislation will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration.

The bill, H.R. 3399, follows a 2015 Department of Homeland Security study which indicated that a six-month shutdown of the locks could lead to significant economic repercussions, including recession and widespread job losses. It mandates that the Secretaries of Transportation and Defense, along with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, assess potential security risks and economic impacts related to an operational failure at the Soo Locks.

Rep. John James expressed his views on this development: "The Soo Locks are a point of pride for Michiganders, a pillar of our state economy, and crucial to our national security. This legislation is a commonsense, bipartisan step toward protecting the vital infrastructure that keeps our country running." He also acknowledged support from Michigan colleagues Reps. Bergman, Kildee, and Scholten.

Rep. Jack Bergman emphasized his commitment to securing critical infrastructure: "Building a new Lock in the Soo has been my top priority since coming to Congress... I’m proud to work with my friend Rep. John James."

Congressman Kildee highlighted the importance of maintaining open operations at the locks: "We must ensure the Soo Locks remain secure and open so businesses who rely on them can safely transport goods."

Congresswoman Scholten added her support by stating: "Ensuring our state has full understanding of security and economic risks involved with a failure at the Locks is critical to Michigan's future."

Michigan plays a significant role in U.S. trade as it hosts America's third-largest land border and sees about 7,000 vessels pass through its locks annually.