Last week, the Biden-Harris administration announced that $14 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will go towards funding critically important projects in both Michigan and Wisconsin, which will strengthen port and waterway supply chains across the Great Lakes and help make the states’ water infrastructure more resilient to climate change.
Millions of tons of cargo move through this region each year, and these investments will create thousands of new jobs while preventing bottlenecks along the supply chain. And from protecting fragile ecosystems against invasive species to rehabilitating wastewater in tribal communities, these investments will help the Midwest build back even better.
The infrastructure law – which passed thanks to President Biden, Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, Michigan Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow, and Democrats in Congress – will fund projects that benefit the entire Great Lakes region, including:
- $1.9 million for the Red Cliff tribe’s wastewater treatment plant
- $1.3 million for the Red Cliff tribe’s water supply system
- $625,000 for the Apostle Islands Marina Breakwall restoration project
- $450,000 for a rehabilitation project related to sewage improvements in Superior
- $226 million to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes
- $1.5 billion to upgrade the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
“The critical role that the Great Lakes plays in the U.S. economy cannot be overstated, and President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a historic step toward revitalizing Lake Superior,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes. “The upgrades made to Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie will prevent bottlenecks, create jobs and protect the fishing industry. Yet, even though Michigan Republicans Jack Bergman and John Moolenar have long asked for funding for the Soo Locks, when they had the opportunity to vote for it, they chose partisan games over Michigan’s economy. Thankfully voters know that Michigan Democrats delivered for them when Republicans failed.”
“The Great Lakes are the backbone of our state and region. We’re thankful to have a leader like President Biden in the White House, who recognizes the critical role that resilient infrastructure plays in reducing costs for Wisconsin’s families and businesses,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “These investments will ensure that Great Lakes communities will continue to support our state for years to come. Democrats have delivered on their promises to build back better – especially for the shoreline communities that rely on the lakes to support local economies.”
These historic investments will benefit businesses and communities across the region, yet the Republican representatives who claim to represent the best interests of lakeside communities all voted against this funding. Voters deserve to know why GOP Congressmen Bergman, Huizenga, and Moolenar of Michigan and Grothman, Gallagher, Steil, and Tiffany of Wisconsin prioritized partisanship over delivering for their constituents when they rejected this critical funding.
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