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HR 1561 117th Congress House Transportation and Public Works Canada Coast guard Congressional oversight Great Lakes Marine and inland water transportation Military procurement, research, weapons development Navigation, waterways, harbors Performance measurement Public contracts and procurement

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021

Introduced: March 3, 2021 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) 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
Mar 4, 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Mar 3, 2021
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mar 3, 2021
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021

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 bill also directs the Coast Guard to acquire a Great Lakes icebreaker that is at least as capable as Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw in an accelerated timeframe and award the contract on the basis of contractor qualification and price.

What's happening now March 4, 2021

Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 576 Identical bill Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 16
All 16 Democratic 4 Republican 8
Gonzalez, Anthony
· Jul 26, 2021
 R
Tiffany, Thomas P.
Wisconsin · Jun 15, 2021
Lamb, Conor
· Jun 4, 2021
 R
Reschenthaler, Guy
Pennsylvania · Apr 28, 2021
Walorski, Jackie
· Apr 5, 2021
 R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Mar 23, 2021
 D
Mrvan, Frank J.
Indiana · Mar 23, 2021
 R
Bergman, Jack
Michigan · Mar 3, 2021
 D
Dingell, Debbie
Michigan · Mar 3, 2021
Gibbs, Bob
· Mar 3, 2021
 R
Huizenga, Bill
Michigan · Mar 3, 2021
 R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · Mar 3, 2021
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Mar 3, 2021
 R
McClain, Lisa C.
Michigan · Mar 3, 2021
 D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Mar 3, 2021
 R
Stauber, Pete
Minnesota · Mar 3, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1561: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1561/
MLA
"H.R. 1561: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1561/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1561, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1561/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1561: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-1561/)
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