By VOICES Staff
The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force honored Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, for her longstanding dedication to safeguarding the Great Lakes Navigation System and bolstering American jobs within U.S.-flagged Great Lakes shipping.
As the co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Senator Stabenow has been instrumental in championing initiatives aimed at preserving the region’s largest freshwater resource and the vital maritime highway that underpins U.S. employment. Her notable achievements include spearheading the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in 2010, which has since garnered $3.8 billion in funding.
Advocates say the GLRI has proven to be a resounding success, funding over 6,800 projects across the region to protect the Great Lakes and their tributaries from significant threats while addressing issues affecting public health and safety.
Jim Weakley, Vice President of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force and President of the Lake Carriers Association, emphasized Senator Stabenow’s pivotal role in securing the future of the Great Lakes, stating, “Senator Stabenow’s work for over a decade has proved to be a game changer, ensuring our fresh waters are restored and protected for generations to come.”
Senator Stabenow’s advocacy extends to critical infrastructure projects, notably the construction of a new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigational lock in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. The lock, crucial for the transit of domestically produced steel, represents a mainstay in North American manufacturing. Her unwavering support for funding and efficient project management has been instrumental in advancing this $3.2 billion endeavor, according to the task force.
The Senator has been a staunch defender of the Jones Act, which requires goods transported by water between U.S. points to be carried on ships that are built, owned and operated by Americans. The Jones Act is of particular importance to Michigan, as it ensures the continued vitality of the domestic maritime industry, including the Great Lakes shipping sector.
“With our Great Lakes and rich maritime history, it’s no surprise this industry is an important part of Michigan’s economy. The Jones Act helps ensure that these jobs stay in Michigan and that this American industry continues to thrive,” Stabenow said in 2019.
The Jones Act continues to receive overwhelmingly bipartisan support from members of Congress, the administration and our nation’s military leaders.
“Our U.S. sailors, port, shipyard, and manufacturing employees depend on the Great Lakes and its connecting waterways for the raw material supply chain to support good paying jobs and their families live here too,” said Weakley. “The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force is grateful for Senator Stabenow’s service to our country, the Great Lakes Region, and the State of Michigan.”
The award presentation took place at Senator Stabenow’s Washington D.C. office, attended by numerous members of the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force expressing their gratitude.
