Senators want money for Great Lakes ports in looming infrastructure bill

HOLLAND — U.S. Sen. Gary Peters led a group of Senate Democrats in calling on party leadership to include funding for Great Lakes port infrastructure in an infrastructure bill. Democrats in Congress are hoping to to pass a $3.5 trillion budget plan before the end of the year.

Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, and eight other senators sent a letter to Sen. Maj. Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sept. 8 calling for $2.5 billion in funding to address port congestion through a federal port infrastructure program. Part of that funding would go toward ports in the Great Lakes. 

"The forthcoming reconciliation package provides a unique opportunity to revitalize and modernize our ports to handle the increasing volumes of cargo that is crucial as e-commerce continues to grow," Senators wrote. 

Democrats currently control both chambers of Congress along with the White House. Party leadership, including President Joe Biden, want to pass the $3.5 trillion bill to address many of the party's platforms, from boosting Medicare funding, addressing climate infrastructure and more.

While the package is mostly opposed by Republicans in Congress, Democrats are able to use the reconciliation process to pass it through the Senate — provided all 50 Democratic members vote in favor the bill. Some moderates, namely Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Krysten Sinema of Arizona, have raised concerns about the package's price tag. 

The reconciliation package has yet to come to a vote in either chamber, with Schumer, Pelosi and other party leaders trying to ensure unity within their caucuses before the bill reaches the floor.