Kildee Applauds Investments to Modernize Soo Locks, Protect Great Lakes from Asian Carp

WASHINGTON-Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will make major infrastructure investments to modernize the Soo Locks and protect the Great Lakes from invasive species like Asian carp.

As a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law supported by Congressman Kildee and signed into law by President Biden, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has committed:

• $478,949,000 for the construction of a new lock at the Soo Locks.
• $225,838,000 for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes.

"Michigan's economy relies on the Soo Locks and protecting the Great Lakes. This major investment, because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help to support tens of thousands of jobs and help grow our economy," Congressman Kildee said. "Modernizing the Soo Locks, including building a new lock to handle larger freighters, will help to ensure that Michigan manufacturers can get raw materials and that our state's farmers can get their agricultural products to market. Additionally, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help stop invasive species like Asian carp by funding the Brandon Road Dam project to create barriers between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. I am proud to have voted to help deliver these critical investments in Michigan's infrastructure."

Congressman Kildee supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a once-in-a-generation investment in our infrastructure, that will enhance Michigan's economic competitiveness and create good-paying jobs rebuilding and modernizing our roads, bridges and water systems. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also includes $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

Of the four parallel locks at the Soo Locks facility, only two are operational, and only the Poe Lock is large enough to handle most of the cargo that passes through the Locks. This reliance on the Poe Lock means that any disruption or shutdowns of the lock could be devastating to the U.S. economy. Building a much-needed Poe-sized lock is necessary to ensure the Soo Locks are resilient, securing the more than 123,172 jobs in the U.S. and Canada and $22.6 billion in economic activity it supports. According to the Army Corps of Engineers, building this new, large lock will cost about $1.5 billion. The federal funding announced today is critical to complete the long-awaited construction of the new lock, which began in 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2030.

Asian carp, an invasive species, threaten fish populations that are native to the Great Lakes, because they can consume almost half of their body weight in food each day. Asian carp pose a threat to the $7 billion fishing industry and $16 billion recreation boating industry on the Great Lakes. Congressman Kildee has long advocated for long-term solution to these invasive species.