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Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
July 17, 2009
(202) 225-3761

House Approves Upton Effort to Boost SW Michigan's Economy
Upton secures $755,000 to dredge St. Joe Harbor and $139,000 to dredge New Buffalo Harbor

Upton also supported “Buy American” provision to ensure no funds are spent on U.S. Government passenger vehicles unless they are purchased from Ford, GM or Chrysler

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House today approved Energy and Water spending legislation in which Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) was successful in including $755,000 to dredge St. Joseph Harbor and $139,000 to dredge New Buffalo Harbor.  Upton, who’s been gravely concerned with the unprecedented rate of spending in Washington, supported the Energy and Water bill as it only increased funding by less that one tenth of one percent over last year’s level.  The St. Joe Harbor is of utmost priority for Upton, who has delivered millions of dollars for seasonal dredging, including $793,000 in the omnibus spending package that the President signed into law in February.  Thousands of jobs depend on the ability to move cargo on the Great Lakes and the St. Joseph port is an integral part of that system.  The measure, H.R. 3183, passed by a vote of 320 to 97.

Upton also supported a “Buy American” amendment introduced by Rep. Ed Pastor (D-AZ) that prohibits any funds in the bill from being used to purchase passenger motor vehicles unless they are purchased from Ford, GM, or Chrysler.  The amendment passed by a vote of 261 to 172 and was included in the overall package.

 “This funding is a big win for our community at a time where we could really use a lift,” said Upton.  “The last thing folks can afford right now are increased costs for everyday goods – keeping our commercial harbor open for business has a wide ripple effect on our local economy and keeps costs down for local residents.  With major infrastructure projects on I-94, U.S. 31, and I-96, materials delivered to the St. Joe Harbor will save taxpayers millions of dollars, which in turn means more money for job creation and repairing critical infrastructure.  Our roads are also in a terrible state of disrepair, but with our commercial harbors fully operational, we keep countless trucks off the roads, lessening some of the wear and tear and traffic as well.” 

Soundings of St. Joe Harbor this spring revealed significant shoaling with depths of only 5 1/2 feet near portions of Center Dock. Working cooperatively with the Army Corps of Engineers and our commercial shippers, Upton was able to reallocate resources, mobilize the dredge boat faster, have contracts amended and get work started sooner.  The harbor was open for commercial activity in a matter of weeks as opposed to the several months that it took last year.  In 2008, shoaling in the federal shipping channel required Upton to secure an emergency $1.8 million project to remove the more than 170,000 cubic yards of material that had filled the harbor.

The St. Joseph Harbor is an integral cog in the region’s economic engine.  A recent study by Purdue University gauged the harbor’s economic impact at more than $5.5 million dollars more than 35 local jobs. The inner harbor is a key port for raw materials such as limestone, sand and gravel for highway construction - major road projects along Interstate 94 and Interstate 196 are served by the port, and the loss of shipping could triple the cost of those projects.  The St. Joseph harbor is among the top 50 in commercial activity among Great Lakes Harbors.

Freighters on the Great Lakes save industries $3.6 billion a year in transportation costs. A freighter on the Great Lakes can travel 607 miles on gallon of fuel per ton of cargo – that is ten times farther than a semi truck and three times farther than a freight train.

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