REMINDER: Law Already Prevents Soo Locks Funding from Being Diverted

Today, the White House announced that President Donald Trump will declare a national emergency on the southern border tomorrow.

A new media report tonight in Michigan is circulating the already debunked story that funding for the Soo Locks would be at-risk because of the emergency declaration.

As this office explained in its press release on January 15, 2019, the funding for the Soo Locks is not at risk.

Legislation passed last year says:

"the Secretary[of the Army for Civil Works] may not deviate from the new starts proposed in the work plan, once the plan has been submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress."

Funding for the initial design and construction of constructing a second, freighter-sized lock at the Soo Locks was included in the Army Corp's work plan that was submitted in November, protecting the funding under the definition of a new start.

Congressman John Moolenaar was instrumental in securing funding for the Soo Locks and its inclusion in the Army Corps of Engineers work plan.

He made the following statement tonight:

"The Soo Locks are a vital infrastructure priority for our state and in the past year we have made more progress than others have in the past decade and a half. The funding included in the Army Corps work plan last year is protected and cannot be diverted to a new project. Through my work on the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for additional funding in the years ahead because a new lock at the Soo will benefit Michigan's economy and support jobs."

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