Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2025
The Soo Locks Security and Economic Reporting Act of 2025 would require the federal government to produce a comprehensive interagency report on the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Within one year of enactment, the Secretary of Transportation, working with the Coast Guard and the Secretary of Defense, must submit to Congress a report that identifies security deficiencies at the Soo Locks, analyzes how a malfunction or closure would affect the U.S. and regional supply chains and economies, assesses potential threats to the locks, describes current security arrangements, and offers recommendations with cost estimates to strengthen security and lessen the supply chain impacts. The report would be submitted to specific congressional committees defined in the bill. The bill is intended to inform Congress about vulnerabilities and resilience needs for a critical piece of U.S. infrastructure on the Great Lakes, potentially guiding future funding and policy decisions to protect transportation and trade flows.
Key Points
- 1Within one year of enactment, the Secretary of Transportation, in coordination with the Coast Guard and the Secretary of Defense, must submit a comprehensive report to Congress.
- 2The report must cover: (1) security deficiencies at the Soo Locks; (2) supply chain, logistical, and economic effects of a malfunction or failure and their regional and national impact; (3) potential domestic or international threats to the locks; (4) current security structures of the Coast Guard and other relevant agencies; and (5) recommended security improvements with cost estimates to strengthen security and reduce supply chain impacts.
- 3The act designates the appropriate committees of Congress as: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- 4The focus is on identifying vulnerabilities and proposing concrete actions and funding to mitigate risks and disruption to national and regional economies.
- 5The bill aims to enhance understanding and planning around the reliability of the Soo Locks as a critical infrastructure node for Great Lakes shipping.