U.S. Senate weighs bill to increase icebreaking on the Great Lakes
The U.S. Coast Guard ALDER Cutter operates in the northern Great Lakes. A new piece of legislation looks to increase ice cutting on the Great Lakes and would provide $350 million for a new icebreaker. (U.S. Coast Guard ALDER Cutter/Facebook)
(FOX 9) - A bipartisan group of Midwest members of Congress are hoping to pass legislation to increase icebreaking on the Great Lakes in an effort to ease transport during the winter months.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin, authored the bill that she says will help pave the way for the 90 million tons of cargo that navigate the Great Lakes each year. She argues that added icebreaking will help grow the regional economy.
The bill would require the U.S. Coast Guard to break ice in the Great Lakes and would help size its fleet of icebreakers accordingly. The bill includes $350 million for a new Great Lakes icebreaker.
A study by the Lake Carriers’ Association found the Great Lakes maritime industry lost more than $1 billion in revenues because of transport delays caused by inadequate icebreaking in the 2019-2019 ice season. The study found more than 5,000 jobs were lost as a result.
28 percent of the United States’ GDP is generated in the Great Lakes region, Baldwin’s office says. The Great Lakes waterborne economy supports more than 147,000 jobs in eight states.
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) and Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) are the senators who also advocated for the bill. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) are supporting the legislation in the House of Representatives.
The legislation passed the Senate Commerce Committee and will now move to a full vote on the Senate floor.