Press Releases
Rep. Young Calls For New American Icebreakers; Introduces The Polar Protection Act
Washington D.C.,
October 11, 2011
Alaskan Congressman Don Young has introduced H.R. 3113, the Polar Protection Act. This important legislation would authorize the Coast Guard to enter into long-term lease agreements for two new icebreakers. Specifically, H.R. 3113 requires the Coast Guard to enter into each lease within four years from enactment of the legislation and requires each lease to be at least ten years long.
“The race for the Arctic has begun and we are getting beaten by the likes of China and Russia,” said Rep. Young. “Too much is at stake up there for us to not act now. With the ice melting and the Arctic region becoming more and more accessible, the potential is enormous for new resource development and transportation opportunities.
“Leasing icebreakers from foreign countries is simply not cutting it. The United States has the capacity to build, run and maintain our own fleet of icebreakers and that is why I have introduced the Polar Protection Act. In these difficult budgetary times, leasing should be considered as an option to relieve stress on annual budgets. My legislation does that while modernizing our icebreaker fleet so that we are able to compete with any other country in the world.”
In response to federal agencies currently leasing foreign icebreakers, H.R. 3113 would require icebreakers be built in the United States as well requiring any maintenance be completed at a shipyard located in the United States.
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