Jack Bergman: letter to Director Kudlow, Straits of Mackinac under the Great Lakes Pilotage Act (July 8, 2020)

Summary

Letter dated July 8, 2020 from Jack Bergman, Member of Congress, to Larry Kudlow, Director of the U.S. National Economic Council, asking for full and fair consideration of a proposal to designate the Straits of Mackinac under the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960. Bergman writes that U.S. Coast Guard officials briefed National Economic Council staff on the proposal on June 3, 2020. Designation would require a pilot to be on the bridge of foreign vessels passing through the Straits, rather than only available on board. The letter states that the Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee unanimously recommended designation and that the Coast Guard found there would be essentially no additional cost imposed on foreign shipping companies.

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JACK BERGMAN COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

{57 Destarer, Mics COMMITTEE ON VETENANS' AFTAIRS.

Congress of the Anited States
Wouse of Representatives

July 8, 2020

The Honorable Larry Kudlow
Director

U.S. National Economic Council
The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

Director Kudlow:

Safe and robust commerce on the Great Lakes is essential to the health of our national
economy. I understand U.S. Coast Guard officials briefed the National Economic Council staff
on June 3, 2020 regarding a proposal to designate the Straits of Mackinac (“the Straits”) in
Michigan under authority of the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960 (“the Pilotage Act”). As
Michigan’s First Congressional District is home to the Straits and covers more Great Lakes
shoreline than any other district, | write to request your full and fair consideration of this
proposed plan.

According to the Pilotage Act, foreign vessels must secure the services of an on-board American
or Canadian pilot as a requirement for sailing the Great Lakes. The United States — and
particularly Michigan — is home to the world’s hardest-working and most skilled pilots. These
experienced mariners frequently navigate hazardous parts of the Lakes. The cost of the pilots is
paid for by foreign shipping companies which benefit from their service. The Pilotage Act also
requires a pilot to be on the bridge, helping guide any foreign ship traversing certain designated
areas on the Great Lakes which are challenging for navigation. In undesignated waters, a pilot
must be available but not necessarily involved in active navigation. The Straits, considered the
“crossroads of the Great Lakes,” are an especially busy and complex waterway located between
the northern-most tip of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Commercial
and recreational ship activity as well as one of the largest suspension bridges in the world make
crossing these waters so complicated that most vessels already take measures to have an
American pilot actively facilitating safe navigation from the ship’s bridge. While this practice is
not required by law, listing the Straits as “designated waters” will significantly improve safety by
ensuring a pilot is always on the bridge of these foreign vessels during transit through the Straits.

Under 46 U.S.C. §9302(a)(1)(B), the “president shall make water designations” under the
Pilotage Act. | strongly urge your consideration of this designation of the Straits for the
following reasons:

e The Straits are a geographically iconic, economically important, and environmentally
critical waterway in Michigan. A Pilotage Act designation would improve safety in this

WASHINGTON, DC OFFICE TAAVEASE Cry OFFICE CWINN OFRIEE MANISTIOUS OFFICE
414 Cansom House Orrce Bloc 1396 Doucias Dr, Ste 278 : 125G Ave, Ste B-119 TE76W Co Rp 442, Ste B
Wasninaton, DC 20516 TAAVERSE City, MI 49698 Gyan, MI 49841 Masistique, Ml 49854

(202) 225-4735 (231} 944-7633 (906) 273-2227 (300) 286-4191
pristine yet congested part of the Great Lakes by formalizing additional navigation
protection to require an American pilot at the helm.

© The Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee, the formally recognized federal advisory
committee for Great Lakes pilotage composed of stakeholders from all relevant parts of
Great Lakes shipping, has unanimously recommended designation of the Straits.

° Following an evaluation of the Committee’s recommendation, the U.S. Coast Guard
found there would be essentially no additional cost imposed on foreign shipping
companies by designating the Straits.

* There will be no additional costs for taxpayers.

Thank you for your interest in this important matter, ] have engaged this issue over the past year
to encourage designation of the Straits, and ! stand ready to work with you to make this a reality.

Sincerely,

Jack Bergman
Member of Congress


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