May 01, 2018
Lt. Governor to visit Soo Locks Wednesday
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
LANSING, Mich. – Lt. Gov. Brian Calley today announced the launch of a new website encouraging Michiganders and people across the country to thank President Trump for calling on the need to fix and upgrade the Soo Locks and find out more about this vital national infrastructure.
While visiting Michigan last weekend, President Donald Trump said he would be contacting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the locks, noting, “The Soo Locks are going to hell…and we’re going to get them fixed up.”
“I am so pleased with President Trump’s comments about fixing and upgrading the Soo Locks – which are vital to trade and commerce across the country and the world,” Calley said. “This website will help educate people about the importance of the Soo Locks and provide the opportunity to thank President Trump for his commitment to addressing this critical need.”
A 2015 analysis by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security found that an unexpected closure of the Soo Locks, especially during peak shipping season, could result in a cascading collapse of the U.S. economy. The report estimates significant disruptions to the shipping of steel, causing the production of almost all North American appliances, automobiles, railcars, as well as construction, farm and mining equipment to cease within weeks.
“Whether you live in Michigan or across the United States, the Soo Locks are a vital pathway to bringing in iron ore, agricultural products, and thousands of other goods we use in North America, as well as export internationally. This is a critically important element of our national infrastructure representing millions of jobs nationwide,” Calley said.
Calley plans to visit the Soo Locks Wednesday to receive the latest updates and a tour from the Army Corps of Engineers and further stress the need to fix and upgrade the Locks.
Visit the website to learn more here: www.michigan.gov/fixthesoolocks
Be part of the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #fixthesoolocks.
###
