What: Congressional Briefing on the Soo Locks and the American Steel Industry
When: Wednesday, January 31, 2018 at 2:30 PM
Where: Capitol Visitor Center, HVC – 201
The Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan serve as one of the nation’s most economically vital systems, acting as a critical component in the American steel supply chain. More than 10,000 one-way trips and about 80 million tons of cargo annually pass through the Soo Locks, including nearly all of the iron ore that is mined for the American steel industry. According to a study released by the Department of Homeland Security, a six-month closure at the Soo Locks would lead to the loss of $1.1 trillion in gross domestic product and 11 million American jobs, directly impacting agriculture, appliances, automobiles, construction, and infrastructure industries.
The briefing will focus on such issues as the Soo Locks’ role in the steel supply chain, efforts to modernize the Soo Locks, and the direct impact the Soo Locks have on American manufacturing. Presenters will include:
- Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Sugrue, Commander of Detroit District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- Tom Dower, Senior Director, Government Relations, ArcelorMittal
- Matthew McKenna, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program, Northeast-Midwest Institute
For more information, please contact Matthew McKenna, Director of the Great Lakes Washington Program at the Northeast-Midwest Institute.