Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., is calling on the U.S. Senate to reinclude funding for a new Great Lakes heavy icebreaker in its reconciliation bill after the provision was left out of the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“While the House-passed version of the One Big Beautiful Bill supports the Coast Guard’s request for a Great Lakes icebreaker, the current Senate language cut it while funding other icebreakers,” Huizenga wrote on the social media platform X.
Huizenga, along with other members of the Great Lakes congressional delegation, sent a letter to Senate majority leader John Thune and Senate commerce committee chairman Ted Cruz requesting that funding for the vessel be restored. The letter notes that the current Senate version includes funding for every other category of icebreaker requested by the U.S. Coast Guard, except the Great Lakes icebreaker.
“We write regarding an important issue in the Senate's reconciliation bill that directly affects the Great Lakes region,” the letter states. “Specifically, we request the Senate maintain the House-passed One Big, Beautiful Bill Act's support for a new Great Lakes heavy icebreaker.”
While the House-passed version of the One Big Beautiful Bill supports the Coast Guard’s request for a Great Lakes icebreaker, the current Senate language cut it while funding other icebreakers. Today, I led my House colleagues from across the Great Lakes region in asking the… pic.twitter.com/yxw7bQQ2IE
— Rep. Bill Huizenga (@RepHuizenga) June 27, 2025
According to the delegation, the new icebreaker would support the uninterrupted flow of cargo during winter and assist with coastal flood prevention. “Funding for the Great Lakes icebreaker, designed to ensure the efficient transportation of cargo during winter months and to help prevent coastal flooding, has long been a high priority of the Great Lakes Congressional Delegation,” the letter reads.
Huizenga cited economic losses due to past delays in icebreaking, noting that more than $1 billion in economic activity and 5,000 jobs were lost during the 2018–2019 winter season.
The members also questioned the omission: “We are aware of no reason why the Great Lakes icebreaker, among all icebreakers requested by the Coast Guard, should go unfunded in this bill.”
The letter adds, “It is our understanding that the Great Lakes icebreaker may be included in the Senate reconciliation bill in a way that would add no cost to the legislation. We urge you to consider this approach and all efforts to allow funding consistent with the U.S. Coast Guard's request for the Great Lakes icebreaker in the Senate reconciliation bill.”
“Efficient commerce on the Great Lakes is critical to American steel production and manufacturing with implications that extend far beyond the Midwest,” the delegation wrote in closing. “We ask that the Senate reconciliation bill include proper language in support of the Great Lakes icebreaker.”
