Senate Bill 4570
116th Congress(2019-2020)
Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on Sep 15, 2020
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
4570
Congress
116
Policy Area
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation and Public Works
Primary focus of measure is all aspects of transportation modes and conveyances, including funding and safety matters; Coast Guard; infrastructure development; travel and tourism. Measures concerning water resources and navigation projects may fall under Water Resources Development policy area.
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
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 and ferries attempt to 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 and ferries attempt to transit ice-covered waterways; and
- coordinate Great Lakes icebreaking operations with operators of commercial vessels.
The Coast Guard must prioritize icebreaking in the United States waters of the Great Lakes over icebreaking in Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.
September 15, 2020
09/15/2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
09/15/2020
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:44:46 PM