[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 7, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S3331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. STABENOW (for herself and Mr. Peters):
  S. 1308. A bill to increase authorized funding for the Soo Locks; to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise to speak about legislation I am 
introducing with my colleague from Michigan Senator Stabenow to 
authorize funding for a new Soo Lock.
  Since 1855, locks at the St. Mary's River have allowed ships to pass 
between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. In modern times, this waterway 
has allowed large freighters to move coal, iron ore, and agricultural 
products throughout the Great Lakes. The Soo Locks are the most 
important link in a critical supply chain that connects iron ore mines 
in Minnesota and Michigan's Upper Peninsula with steel mills and 
manufacturing facilities all across the country.
  During World War II, Congress authorized funding for a new lock 
because it was clear the country's ability to move iron ore to steel 
plants in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania was absolutely critical for 
the war effort. It took less than 2 years to complete that project 
after Congress authorized the funding in 1942.
  President Roosevelt signed an Executive order establishing the 
military district of Sault Saint Marie, and the Army stationed 10,000 
troops there to defend the Soo Locks by land, air, and sea--so great 
was the fear that a German attack would instantly cripple Allied 
efforts to produce steel and weapons.
  Today, there is only one Soo Lock--the Poe Lock--that is large enough 
to accommodate modern freighters, especially the 1,000-foot-long 
vessels that move millions of tons of iron ore each and every year. 
Over 80 percent of the commodities that flow through the Soo Locks must 
pass through the Poe Lock, and each one of those 1,000-foot freighters 
carries the equivalent of 3,000 truckloads of commodities. It is not 
possible to move that amount of iron ore in these 1,000-foot freighters 
by rail or by road, and on top of that, the steel mills are only 
equipped to handle the iron ore supply by water.
  A study conducted by the Department of Homeland Security in 2015 
confirmed that it is the Achilles' heel of our economy. Key findings 
from the Department say: ``A disruption of the Poe Lock likely will 
cause an almost complete shutdown of Great Lake steel production.''
  The report goes on to say: ``A shutdown of Great Lakes steel 
production likely will cause almost all North American appliances, 
automobiles, construction equipment, farm equipment, mining equipment, 
and railcar production to cease within weeks.''
  Within weeks. The Homeland Security report estimates that 11 million 
Americans would lose their jobs if this were to happen.
  Consider the fact that the jobs of millions of American workers 
depend on the ability of large ships to pass, as depicted, from here to 
here on the St. Mary's Falls Canal. Currently, there is only one lock 
that can accommodate this task. If this lock shuts down, steel plants 
in Ohio and Indiana and Kentucky shut down. Auto plants in Texas, 
Tennessee, California, and Michigan shut down. The American economy 
shuts down. The losses would be felt throughout the United States, 
wherever steel is used in the manufacturing process.
  We are taking an unacceptable risk if we do not act swiftly to ensure 
that there is a backup in the case of a lock failure. That is why I am 
joining Senator Stabenow and members of the Michigan congressional 
delegation from both parties to introduce a bill that would authorize 
the funding for constructing another larger Poe-sized lock. The current 
authorization for the project is far below projected cost estimates. 
Our bill, which was introduced today, if enacted, will allow the Army 
Corps to move directly into the design and construction phase. We do 
not have a moment to lose.
  Just last week, I traveled to the Soo Locks for a tour with members 
of the Michigan congressional delegation, and we saw firsthand how the 
dedicated men and women of the Army Corps are working to keep the locks 
functioning. They go to work each and every day with a full 
understanding of how the safety and security of the Nation rests with 
their ability to maintain this critical infrastructure. It is a credit 
to the skill of the Army Corps of Engineers that freighters have been 
able to pass through the St. Mary's on their journeys around the Great 
Lakes almost without interruption. But they are working with equipment 
that has been maintained well beyond its life cycle and in some cases 
beyond two life cycles. When I was there last week, I saw 100-year-old 
water pumps still in use.
  We cannot continue to rely on the infrastructure investments made by 
our grandparents and great-grandparents. It is time to invest in our 
country and the well-being of our economy for future generations and 
pass the Soo Locks Modernization Act.
                                 ______