Great Lakes legislators urge President Biden to appoint Seaway administrator

In a letter last Friday, forty members of Congress urged President Biden to appoint an Administrator for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation. Led by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), the bipartisan, bicameral group highlighted the importance of the Seaway to Great Lakes ports and the regional economy. It also noted that the agency has been without an Administrator for more than five years.

The agency operates U.S. portions of the St. Lawrence Seaway between Montreal and Lake Ontario. Of equal importance, the agency plays a critical role in trade development. In recent years Kaptur has challenged the agency to expand its activities and help grow the regional economy. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, she successfully included an additional $5 million in the Seaway's budget over the last three years to enhance the agency's trade development program.
The position of Seaway Administrator has been vacant since Betty Sutton left the agency in early 2017. The position is a Presidential appointment, but does not require Senate confirmation.