KTVA:
Wednesday, Congress passed a bill that will bring more resources to Alaska’s Arctic, where receding sea ice is opening new areas for shipping and exploration.
It’s attracting the interest of Russia– which has 46 icebreakers, according to the federal government. The U.S. Coast Guard has only two– and one of them is 10 years beyond its intended use.
The bill passed Wednesday authorizes six new icebreakers. “For the first time ever, the NDAA includes an authorization of up to six heavy, polar-class icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard – something that is long overdue,” said Senator Dan Sullivan (R – Alaska).
“America is beginning to wake up to the strategic importance of the Arctic. This year’s authorization, coupled with an updated Department of Defense Arctic Strategy, starts to signal to the world, that because of Alaska, we are an Arctic nation and that we will protect our interests in this critical region.”
