Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans in Washington D.C. are reaching across the aisle to bring another icebreaker to the Great Lakes. Late last year, Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin helped secure $4 million in construction and personnel funding for another ice-breaking ship critical to keeping shipping lanes open in the winter. More recently, Rep. Mike Gallagher penned a letter with a bipartisan group of legislators to the United States Coast Guard urging them to acquire a new icebreaker as soon as possible. Gallagher says securing another icebreaker for the region is important.

A study done by the Lake Carriers’ Association found that Great Lakes maritime businesses lost over $1 billion in revenue due to inadequate icebreaking last season.