A U.S. Senate appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday approved a bill that includes $1 billion for the Coast Guard vessel.
A U.S. Senate appropriations subcommittee on Tuesday approved a defense-spending bill that includes $1 billion for a new Coast Guard heavy icebreaker, which could come on line as soon as 2022.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash, had been advocating to increase the U.S. ice-breaking capacity for national security and also to help with commerce in a changing Arctic that has more maritime traffic.
U.S. Coast Guard Base Seattle is home port for the nation’s icebreakers, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., also has supported new investments in the fleet.
The House passed a defense-appropriations bill earlier this month that did not include the icebreaker, so any funding for the vessel would have to be worked out in joint conference.
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The Senate Defense Appropriations subcommittee bill also includes $2 million in funding for noise reduction for the EA-18G Growler Aircraft, which are stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, and $12 million for two Mark VI Patrol Boats manufactured by SAFE boats of Tacoma, according to statement released by Murray.