As questions mount in Washington over a reported meeting between the Trump administration and the owner of the Ambassador Bridge, U.S. lawmakers are taking fresh steps to protect the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Michigan Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and five Democratic colleagues introduced legislation this week aimed at preventing any federal interference in the bridge’s opening or operation. In a news release, Scholten said the ‘Michigan-Canada Partnership Act’ is designed to protect a project that has long enjoyed bipartisan support and was built under a 2012 Canada–Michigan agreement, with Canada covering the full cost of construction. The move comes after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to block the bridge’s opening - comments that reportedly followed a meeting between U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Matthew Moroun, whose family owns the Ambassador Bridge. Speaking Thursday on AM800’s The Kyle Horner Show, Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a member of the U.S. House Oversight Committee, did not mince words. “Billionaire corruption goes hand in hand with the white House right now,” Tlaib said. Tlaib said the meeting took place just hours before Trump, “… absurdly threatened to block the safer and more efficient Gordie Howe bridge from opening,” adding that the Moroun family has a long history of opposing the project. “The Gordie Howe bridge is a product of years of cross-border work, investment, and cooperation and is ready to open,” she said. “Michiganders and the American people will not be denied this crucial new crossing by the White House’s blatant corruption.” Tlaib also confirmed she and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell are leading legislation stating that nothing can impede the bridge’s opening or operation unless ordered by Congress or requested by Michigan’s governor. CTV News has reached out to the Ambassador Bridge company in an effort to obtain comment from Maroun but has not heard back.
