Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. HUIZENGA of Michigan. I rise today in support of my amendment, along with the co-leads, Chairman Tom Petri from Wisconsin and Congressman Dan Benishek of Michigan.

Today we're talking about a particular ship, the SS Badger located in Ludington, Michigan. It travels between Ludington and Manitowoc, Wisconsin. This particular ship has been operating on the Great Lakes for over 50 years, most recently coming back into service in 1991, using all private dollars to make that happen.

Its uniqueness is recognized by the designation of the National Register of Historic Places and by both the States of Wisconsin and Michigan. Its propulsion system is recognized as a mechanical engineering landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

The Badger is currently operating under special rules developed by the EPA in 2008. These rules are set to expire at the end of 2012. Without certainty provided by this amendment, the Badger could very easily, frankly, be forced off the Great Lakes at the end of 2012.

With an annual economic impact of roughly $35 million between two small port cities both in Wisconsin and Michigan, keeping the Badger operational is absolutely vital to our communities. I urge all of my colleagues today to join us in recognizing the historic significance of these Great Lake steamships by supporting the Huizenga-Petri-Benishek amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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