Soo Locks rebuild runs out of cash. Nobody's really worried

The U.S Army Corps of Engineers learned last week that the funding it needs to complete a modernization study of the Soo Locks has been inexplicably cut. "That study's been marching along and was scheduled to be completed for December 2017," Kevin Sprague, area engineer for the Corps of Engineers, told a joint meeting of the Ontario Sault's City Council and the Michigan Sault's City Commission. U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Representative Jack Bergman, U.S. Senator Gary Peters, and Representatives Sandy Levin, Fred Upton, Bill Huizenga, Tim Walberg, Dan Kildee, Mike Bishop, Debbie Dingell, Brenda Lawrence, John Moolenaar, Dave Trott, and Paul Mitchell today introduced the bipartisan Soo Locks Modernization Act. “I was glad to join a bipartisan Michigan delegation to visit the Soo Locks recently, and we all could agree on the vital role the locks play in the state of Michigan and our nation,” said Rep. Brenda Lawrence. “The functioning of the locks significantly impacts our economy and national security and we must do all that we can to support its function. That is why I support this legislation that would authorize adequate funding to complete the needed repairs to the locks so that the commerce that is critical to our nation continues to flourish and jobs are secured for the American people.”