# 116-hr-5896: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020

116-hr-5896, Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8] (R-WI); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5896
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-5896
- Congress: 116
- Title: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- Introduced: 2020-02-13
- Sponsor: Rep. Gallagher, Mike [R-WI-8] (R-WI)
- Cosponsors: 6
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020 This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes in accordance with specific performance standards. Specifically, the Coast Guard must keep channels and harbors in the Great Lakes open to navigation not less than 90% of the hours that commercial vessels transit ice-covered waterways; in a year in which the Great Lakes are not open to navigation because of ice of a thickness that occurs on average only once every 10 years, keep channels and harbors open to navigation at least 70% of the hours that commercial vessels transit ice-covered waterways; and coordinate Great Lakes icebreaking operations with operators of commercial vessels. The bill prohibits the Coast Guard from breaking ice in Canadian harbors or bays unless it meets these performance standards during such activity. Such prohibition may be waived on a case-by-case basis upon approval by the Department of Homeland Security and notification to Congress.

## Cosponsors (6)

- Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] (D-OH), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Gibbs, Bob [R-OH-7] (R-OH), 2020-02-13T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stauber, Pete [R-MN-8] (R-MN), 2020-02-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2020-03-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] (R-OH), 2020-03-02T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-4031: GLRI Act of 2019
- 116-hr-2423: Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act
- 116-hr-1570: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020
- 116-hr-748: CARES Act
- 116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-5896 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5896)

## Related
- [116-hr-4031: GLRI Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4031)
- [116-hr-2423: Women's Suffrage Centennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2423)
- [116-hr-1830: National Purple Heart Hall of Honor Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1830)
- [116-hr-1570: Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1570)
- [116-hr-748: CARES Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-748)
- [116-hr-4305: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4305)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5896 (as of 2025-11-18).