Bill > HCR0009

This concurrent resolution urges all relevant government agencies and stakeholders to collaborate on exploring ways to extend the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway navigation season, which is the period when ships can travel through the waterway. The resolution highlights that this waterway is crucial for Indiana's economy, connecting the state to global markets for industries like steel, agriculture, and manufacturing, and that its current three-month winter closure disrupts supply chains and limits economic growth. It emphasizes that advancements in technology and infrastructure now make extending the season feasible, which would boost Indiana's economy, increase exports, and support jobs for Hoosiers, while also reducing highway and rail congestion and lowering transportation emissions. The resolution acknowledges that extending the season will require cooperation between the U.S. and Canada to address challenges such as ice breaking, environmental concerns, and the rights of Indigenous communities, and calls for coordination among federal, state, and local entities, including the Ports of Indiana, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/resolutions/house/concurrent/9/details