Great Lakes Icebreaker Act of 2025

The Great Lakes Icebreaker Act of 2025 would require the Coast Guard to produce a strategy within 90 days to design and build a new Great Lakes icebreaker that is at least as capable as the Mackinaw (WLBB-30), with an estimated cost and delivery timeline tied to funding. It also establishes a five-winter pilot program to test whether the Coast Guard’s Great Lakes icebreaking fleet can keep Tier 1 and Tier 2 waterways open at least 95% of the time during an ice season, reporting results after each season. Additionally, the bill tightens reporting requirements by mandating public cost disclosures and formal briefings on costs to meet certain statutory standards. The measure is sponsored by Rep. McDonald Rivet (along with Reps. Wied and Miller of Ohio) and is introduced, not yet enacted.