Washington, D.C - On Wednesday of this week, The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership and the Northeast-Midwest Institute jointly hosted a breakfast briefing for the bi-partisan Great Lakes Congressional delegation. Attended by over 50 members, staff, and interested parties, the briefing was designed to educate attendees on the economic impacts of Great Lakes Seaway shipping, the investments being made within the system by both public and private entities, and the maritime trade opportunities that are essential not only to the region, but to the nation and to the world. Honorary co-sponsors of the event were the House Great Lakes Task Force co-chairs Representatives Candice Miller (MI), Marcy Kaptur (OH), Sean Duffy (WI), and Louise Slaughter (NY). The briefing opened with comments of support by Representatives Mike Kelly (PA) and Dan Benishek (MI) who spoke about the need to work together to ensure that the members in both houses understand what they can do to help keep commerce moving.  Betty Sutton, Administrator of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, discussed the role of the Seaway as the marine highway connecting North America’s Opportunity Belt to the world. She also emphasized that the Great Lakes region is an economic and political powerhouse.  Sutton was followed by a distinguished panel of maritime stakeholders: Dr. John C. Martin – President of the economic and transportation consulting firm           Martin Associates Mark W. Barker – President, The Interlake Steamship Company Paul C. LaMarre – Director, Port of Monroe, Michigan Peter Johnson – Deputy Director, Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence      Governors and Premiers Jessie Perkins – American Iron and Steel Institute  Each panel member addressed the relevance of the Great Lakes Seaway System to their business or organization and stressed the need to continue to view the System as one entity that provides significant economic value for the bi-national region.  Representative Kaptur closed the meeting by thanking the panel for their insightful comments and encouraging the Great Lakes Seaway stakeholders to continue to educate elected officials about the opportunities and needs within the Great Lakes Seaway System.