Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023

Floor Speech

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Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3399) to study the security of the Soo Locks and effects on the supply chain resulting from a malfunction or failure of the Soo Locks, and for other purposes.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3399

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023''. SEC. 2. REPORT ON SECURITY AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS ON SUPPLY CHAIN OF SOO LOCKS, MICHIGAN.

(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Secretary of Defense, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that--

(1) highlights any security deficiencies that exist with respect to the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan;

(2) highlights the supply chain, logistical, and economic effects that would result in the event of a malfunction or failure of the Soo Locks and how such effects would impact the region surrounding the Soo Locks and the United States;

(3) highlights any potential domestic or international threats to the integrity of the Soo Locks;

(4) details the current security structure of the Coast Guard and any other relevant Federal, State, or local agency to protect the Soo Locks; and

(5) provides any recommendations, and cost estimates for such recommendations, for--

(A) strengthening the security of the Soo Locks; and

(B) reducing the impacts to the supply chain of the United States that would result in the event of a malfunction or failure of the Soo Locks.

(b) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this Act, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--

(1) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives;

(2) the Committee on Commerce, Transportation, and Science of the Senate; and

(3) the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate.

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Mr. JAMES. 3399.

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I am grateful for the bipartisan support of my colleagues in Michigan, General Bergman, along with Representatives Scholten and Kildee, for cosponsoring this very important legislation.

H.R. 3399, the Soo Locks Security and Economic Report Act of 2023, is proof that fortifying our national security and strengthening our economy transcends partisan politics.

The Soo Locks are a feat of human ingenuity and a point of pride for all Michiganders. The Army Corps of Engineers has nicknamed the Soo Locks the ``linchpin of the Great Lakes,'' and for good reason. The locks connect both Lake Superior and Lake Huron.

They play a vital role in transporting goods and resources not just throughout the Great Lakes, but all around the world. An average of 7,000 vessels pass through the locks every single year, and with it, over 90 percent of the world's iron ore.

As the hub of America's vehicle industry and one of the most critical States for our military industry, Michigan relies on the locks to get necessary materials in and out of the State. The Soo Locks aren't just important for my home State, they are also critical for every State and for our national security.

As stated above, over 90 percent of the world's iron ore flows through the Soo Locks. Michigan is home to the third largest land border in the country. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the congressman representing Michigan's 10th Congressional District, America's number one manufacturing district, it is my job to safeguard our national defense and vital commerce by finding ways to secure our essential infrastructure. An unexpected closure of the Soo Locks would threaten both.

In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security found that a 6-month shutdown would be disastrous: Recession, closed factories, shuttered mines, a pause in U.S. auto and appliance production for most of the year. Around 11 million jobs could be lost nationwide. That is the entirety of Michigan's population.

Let's think of that. Our economy would be critically harmed and might never recover.

A 2018 study concluded that an unexpected outage in the 1,200-foot- long Poe lock would create a bottleneck that would disrupt the supply chain for steel production and wreak havoc in Michigan manufacturing, particularly in the automotive industry.

That is why I introduced the Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023, and this is why we must together pass this legislation. This is a commonsense measure that simply asks the Secretaries of Transportation and Defense, along with the commandant of the Coast Guard, to study potential security risks of the Soo Locks.

It would examine the economic consequences in the event of operational failure. Finally, it asks these departments to provide recommendations, as well as the cost of these recommendations to Congress.

This legislation is a commonsense step toward protecting the infrastructure that keeps this country running. Failing to move forward on this bill doesn't just jeopardize America's national security, it leaves our country vulnerable to an economic crisis that is unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3399, the Soo Lock Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2023, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Minnesota for his leadership on this matter, as well as his remarks, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. JAMES. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the Soo Locks are critical to international commerce and to our supply chain, and the report directed by this bill would provide important information to ensure their continued funding and operation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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