S. 576: Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-03-03 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 197.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-03-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 197. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021

Plain summary

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 202 1 This bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to conduct icebreaking operations in the Great Lakes in accordance with specific performance standards. Specifically, the Coast Guard must keep channels and harbors in the Great Lakes open to navigation not less than 90% of the hours that commercial vessels and ferries attempt to transit ice-covered waterways; and in a year in which the Great Lakes are not open to navigation because of ice of a thickness that occurs on average only once every 10 years, keep channels and harbors open to navigation at least 70% of the hours that commercial vessels and ferries attempt to transit ice-covered waterways. Additionally, the Coast Guard must establish and maintain a database for collecting, archiving, and disseminating data on icebreaking operations and commercial vessel transit in the Great Lakes during ice season. The bill also directs the Coast Guard to acquire a Great Lakes icebreaker that is at least as capable as Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw. The Government Accountability Office must submit to Congress a report on the Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaking program.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] · 4 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: S. 576, Great Lakes Winter Commerce Act of 2021 (2021-07-26)

Cosponsors on this site

Todd Young (R-IN), Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN)

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] reported raising $3.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117s576.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/s>

Record fed-us-cong117-s576 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117