Congressional Leader Recognized for Her Support of Domestic Marine Shipping Industry

The Chamber of Marine Commerce is pleased to announce it has awarded its 2023 Champion of the Great Lakes award to U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) in honor of her ongoing commitment to enhancing sustainable economic growth through investment and support for domestic marine shipping.

Representative Kaptur has spent her entire career focusing attention on the need for the U.S. government to invest more resources into the Great Lakes Region, and highlighting that marine shipping is critical to both the U.S. and Canadian economies. Rep. Kaptur has also been committed to doing more to help address the supply chain issues both countries face through investment and industry engagement. A brief selection of career highlights include:

• Her ongoing service as a Co-Chair of the Bipartisan House Great Lakes Task Force, through which she encouraged investment in environmental protection and industry enhancement in the Great Lakes region. Thanks in part to het advocacy and leadership, over the last seven years the U.S. Congress has invested over $2.2 billion through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in more than 2,900 projects in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. These projects have restored more than 150,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat.
• Her support for the historic $370 billion Inflation Reduction Act, which was aimed in part at investing in green technologies and infrastructure enhancement within the marine shipping industry.
• Her personal engagement in special initiatives to strengthen trade and infrastructure regionally, including agreements to support intermodal shipping and enhance security at ports.

The CMC congratulates the Congresswoman for her achievements, and thanks her for her continued support of the Great Lakes, the marine sector, and the Chamber of Marine Commerce.

Quotes

“On behalf of more than 100 member organizations that comprise the bi-national Chamber of Marine Commerce, I want to thank Rep. Kaptur for many years leadership, engagement, and dedicated advocacy to support the safe and sustainable development of domestic marine shipping.  She has done much to emphasize that Marine shipping is the cornerstone of dependable supply chain that grows the North American economy, and we are grateful.”

– Bruce R. Burrows, President and CEO, Chamber of Marine Commerce

Key Facts

Cargo moved on the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System has totaled 143.5 million metric tons (158.3 million short tons), and been valued at $15.2 billion (Cdn$19.8 billion).

This commerce has supported 237,868 jobs and $35 billion (Cdn$45.4 billion) in economic activity.

The Soo Locks has supported 123,172 jobs in the U.S. and Canada and $22.6 billion (Cdn$29.3 billion) in economic activity.

Flickr – Download photos of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence shipping industry

https://www.flickr.com/photos/marinecommerce/albums/72157657049769546

About the Chamber of Marine Commerce

The Chamber of Marine Commerce is a bi-national association that represents more than 100 marine industry stakeholders including major Canadian and American shippers, ports, terminals and marine service providers, as well as domestic and international ship owners. The Chamber advocates for safe, sustainable, harmonized and competitive policy and regulation that recognizes the marine transportation system’s significant advantages in the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence, Coastal and Arctic regions.

Media Contact:

Jason Card

Chamber of Marine Commerce

jcard@cmc-ccm.com

(613) 447 5401