Press Releases

Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) raised the alarm on the economic impact of failing to clear a path for Great Lakes shipments, stressing the need for a reliable fleet of Great Lakes Icebreakers during a hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. 

(Congressman Kennedy during the committee hearing.) 

Congressman Kennedy, co-chair of the Northern Border Caucus, pointed out the significant role the Great Lakes passageway plays in the economies along the US-Canada border, saying in part, “Marine commerce on the Great Lakes is vital, with tens of millions of metric tons moving across the Great Lakes, and hundreds of thousands of jobs that are supported here in the United States. In the winter months, like these months we’re in today, the ice that forms on the Great Lakes gets in the way of commerce, it disrupts supply chains, it poses safety risks to vessels. It’s a disruptive force, especially in shallow lakes, like Lake Erie, which my community, that I live in, and the district that I represent directly abuts, along with Lake Ontario. The Great Lakes region really relies upon these icebreakers. Without these icebreakers, our economy takes a massive hit.”

In New York State, Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway shipping supports $633 million in business revenue and $716 million in personal income. The Port of Buffalo alone handles nearly 964,000 in annual cargo tonnage. Major shipments include wheat for the food industry, sand, gravel, and cement for the construction industry, and salt for winter road safety.  

The U.S. Coast Guard requested $55 million in funding for the Great Lakes Icebreaking program to assist with upgrading its aging fleet, which includes some vessels over 40 years old. However, the FY 2024 budget included only $20 million for the program, significantly underfunding the resources needed to maintain reliable icebreaking capabilities during severe winters.  

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