WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) today commended the temporary deployment of a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter, the Penobscot Bay, to assist with seasonal ice breaking operations on the Great Lakes. The Penobscot Bay’s 19-member crew from Bayonne, New Jersey will begin their operations on Dec. 7th.

“This is great news for Michigan, and in this tough economy this ice breaking capability means jobs to Michigan through all of the billions of dollars in commerce operating within our lakes,” Rep. Miller said. “The Penobscot Bay’s arrival is very timely, as we all know Michigan needs strong ice breaking capabilities on our lakes for a good portion of the winter. I thank the Coast Guard for addressing the Great Lakes’ need by deploying this vessel as quickly as possible. I will continue to work in Congress to see that more attention is paid to increase ice breaking capabilities for the Great Lakes.”

Rep. Miller has been a longtime advocate for protecting the Great Lakes and Great Lakes commerce. Recently, Rep. Miller supported the passage of H.R. 1747, the Great Lakes Icebreaker Replacement Act, a measure that approves funding for new icebreaker vessels on the Great Lakes. In addition, Rep. Miller supported $475 million in funding in the FY 2010 Interior Appropriations bill designated to protecting the Great Lakes through a federal – state – local partnership. The bill also included a provision which would exempt 13 Great Lakes cargo ships from stringent EPA regulations that would have forced them to stop operating and would have crippled Great Lakes shipping.

“Placing burdensome EPA regulations on Great Lakes shippers could have brought a vital part of Michigan’s economy to a halt,” said Rep. Miller.

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