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119-hr-4375119th CongressWALLET

Great Lakes Icebreaker Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

In Committee

Summary

A capable Great Lakes icebreaker would be sped up by forcing the Coast Guard to lay out a near‑term plan and to test fleet performance over multiple seasons. The bill pairs a 90‑day strategy requirement with a five‑season pilot and public cost tracking to push toward faster delivery and clearer oversight.

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  • The Coast Guard would have to deliver a strategy within 90 days that includes a cost estimate and an estimated delivery timeline, and run a five‑season pilot to test icebreaking capability.
  • Great Lakes ports and shippers would get clearer, regular data on icebreaking reliability with season reports due 180 days after each of the five pilot seasons and a performance goal to keep Tier One and Tier Two waterways open 95 percent of the time.
  • Congress and the public would get tighter cost transparency through a required public cost report and scheduled briefings on costs in 2025 and 2026.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Coast Guard plan for new Great Lakes icebreaker

This bill would require the Coast Guard to give Congress a strategy within 90 days. The plan would explain how to design and build a Great Lakes icebreaker at least as capable as the cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30). It must include a cost estimate and an estimated delivery timeline to speed delivery once funding is provided.

Five-season Great Lakes icebreaking pilot and cost reports

If enacted, the Coast Guard would run a pilot for five ice seasons after enactment. It would test if Tier One and Tier Two waterways stay open 95% of the time each season. Reports are due within 180 days after each season with results and any new performance measures, including those in its July 26, 2024 Domestic Icebreaking Operations report (pages 5–7). The bill would also require a public cost report by July 1 after the first winter when that related report is submitted. It would set cost briefings: within 30 days after the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 for FY2024, by November 2025 for FY2025, and by November 1, 2026 for FY2026.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]

MI • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Wied, Tony [R-WI-8]

    WI • R

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Miller, Max L. [R-OH-7]

    OH • R

    Sponsored 7/14/2025

  • Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 7/15/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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