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HR 5896 116th Congress House Transportation and Public Works Canada Coast guard Congressional oversight Great Lakes Marine and inland water transportation Navigation, waterways, harbors Performance measurement

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020

Introduced: February 13, 2020 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 14, 2020
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Feb 13, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Feb 13, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now February 14, 2020

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 4570 Related bill Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Democratic 3 Republican 2
R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · Mar 2, 2020
 D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Mar 2, 2020
 R
Stauber, Pete
Minnesota · Feb 26, 2020
 D
Dingell, Debbie
Michigan · Feb 13, 2020
Gibbs, Bob
· Feb 13, 2020
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Feb 13, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5896: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5896/
MLA
"H.R. 5896: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5896/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5896, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5896/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5896: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2020](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5896/)
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