Two area federal representatives are proposing legislation designed to modernize the current Great Lakes Navigation System.
Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, and Congressman Brian Higgins, both Democrats, say their bill would establish a single, comprehensive Great Lakes Navigation System for budgeting purposes.
The representatives say that it would take all the individually authorized commercial and recreational navigation projects in the Great Lakes and recognize them as a unified entity to ensure adequate funding.
Slaughter and Higgins say the legislation does not create any new spending – instead they say it uses existing funds from the underutilized Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund to establish a cost-share program.
The two lawmakers say they have bi-partisan support for the bill.