Bill > HR4375

This bill directs the Commandant of the Coast Guard to submit a comprehensive strategy to Congress within 90 days of enactment, detailing plans for designing and constructing a new Great Lakes icebreaker that is at least as capable as the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw. The bill requires the Coast Guard to conduct a 5-year pilot program to assess its ability to keep tier one and tier two waterways open 95% of the time during ice seasons, with detailed reports to be submitted after each ice season. Additionally, the bill modifies existing reporting requirements related to icebreaking operations, mandating public reports on the cost of meeting icebreaking standards and requiring briefings to congressional committees about the financial implications of icebreaking requirements in fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026. The legislation aims to improve the Coast Guard's icebreaking capabilities in the Great Lakes region by promoting transparency, assessing operational effectiveness, and planning for future infrastructure needs.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4375/all-info