GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKING.

SEC. 7215. GREAT LAKES ICEBREAKING. (a) Great Lakes Icebreaker and Icebreaking Tugs.— (1) Strategy.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a strategy detailing how the Coast Guard will complete design and construction of a Great Lakes icebreaker at least as capable as the Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw (WLBB-30) as expeditiously as possible after funding is provided for such icebreaker, including providing a cost estimate and an estimated delivery timeline that would facilitate the expedited delivery detailed in the strategy. (2) Report on bay class icebreaking tug fleet replacement.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate— (A) a report that describes the strategy of the Coast Guard with respect to the replacement of the Bay class icebreaking tug fleet; (B) in the case of such a strategy that results in the replacement of the last Bay class icebreaking tug on a date that is more than 5 years after such date of enactment, a plan to maintain the operational capabilities of the Bay class icebreaking tug fleet until the date on which such fleet is projected to be replaced; and (C) in the case of such a plan that does not include the replacement of the main propulsion engines and marine gear components of the Bay class icebreaking tug fleet, an assessment of the manner in which not replacing such engines and gear components will effect the future operational availability of such fleet. (b) Great Lakes Icebreaker Pilot Program.—Section 11212(a) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-263) is amended by adding at the end the following: “(4) [14 U.S.C. 504 note] Pilot program.— “(A) In general.—During the 5 ice seasons beginning after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, the Commandant shall conduct a pilot program to determine the extent to which the Coast Guard Great Lakes icebreaking cutter fleet is capable of maintaining tier one and tier two waterways open 95 percent of the time during an ice season. “(B) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the end of each of the 5 ice seasons beginning after the date of enactment of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a report that details— “(i) the results of the pilot program required under subparagraph (A); and “(ii) any relevant new performance measures implemented by the Coast Guard, including the measures described in pages 5 through 7 of the report of the Coast Guard titled ‘Domestic Icebreaking Operations’ and submitted to Congress on July 26, 2024, as required by section 11212(a)(3) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-263), and the results of the implementation of such measures.” . (c) [14 U.S.C. 504 note] Modification to Reporting Requirement Relating to Icebreaking Operations in Great Lakes.—Section 11213(f) of the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-263) is amended to read as follows: “(f) Public Report.—Not later than July 1 after the first winter in which the Commandant has submitted the report required by paragraph (3) of section 11212(a), the Commandant shall publish on a publicly accessible website of the Coast Guard a report on the cost to the Coast Guard of meeting the proposed standards described in paragraph (2) of such section.” . (d) Report on Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commandant shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives a detailed written briefing that describes— (1) the Midlife Maintenance Availability Assessment for Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw; (2) the remaining service life of the hull; (3) the— (A) estimated remaining service life of the hull if the cutter undergoes a Service Life Extension Program; (B) estimated costs associated with such a program; and (C) fiscal years in which such funds would be required to ensure the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw remains operational consistently in winter seasons through the extended service life resulting from such a program.