The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Thursday unanimously agreed to report H.R. 5797, the Mille Lacs Lake Freedom to Fish Act of 2012, to the House for consideration. Authored by Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., this legislation concerns Minnesota’s state sovereignty, job creation, cutting federal red tape, and strengthening Minnesota’s outdoor fishing tradition, according to a statement from the congressman.
In March of 2010, the Coast Guard began requiring fishing guides on Lake Mille Lacs to acquire a federal “six-pack” boating license to continue to do their jobs. This certification is difficult to obtain and can cost individual fishing guides up to $2,000 in fees, training, and travel costs, Cravaack’s statement said. Citing historical interstate commerce, this policy change was based on a 1981 Army Corps of Engineers determination that the lake had been used in the 1800s for logging. Ironically, this decision was made despite the fact that the Rum River, which formerly connected the lake to the Mississippi River, had been dammed for decades.
“The state has been conducting effective oversight for over 100 years, and the Coast Guard’s action negatively impacts local citizens and makes fishing more expensive,” said Rep. Cravaack.
H.R. 5797 would remove the burdensome, administrative overreach by the U.S. Coast Guard and restore the state’s authority to permit and inspect the vessels on the lake, Cravaack said in the news release.
The Mille Lacs Lake Freedom to Fish Act was passed out of committee with the support of Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Ranking Member Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.V.). The Act is also supported by fishing guides and resort owners.
Rep. Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee — the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in northeast Minnesota.
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Everyone here knows your political leanings. Just say thank you Chip and leave it at that!
Freedom of speech bother you, dean?
Go Rick Nolan! Replace this outsider! Send him packing to New Hampshire to live with his family.
Chip: I wonder if he has even been on Mille Lacs to fish?
Feds interfering with the State Good Job Cravaack
The creeping tentacle laws of the feds never cease. Good job Cravaack.
South
Do you really think nolan is even going to win the primary??
clark has more $$$
anderson aleast has some common sense & dont want to build a mine institute & create more Gov bureaucracy.
GO CHIP!!!!
Funny how money has become
such a deciding factor. The Founding Fathers would be shocked, I tell you. Shocked!
No southie ...
... the founding fathers wouldn't be shocked, many of them had money, position and power.
Rick
I saw Rick Nolan at the Isle parade. He will be at Garrison tomorrow. Never saw Chip's face around Mille Lacs.That tells you something. Probably fishing in New Hampshire.
Sure Brainews
It tells me that you never fish Mille Lacs.
Mille Lacs
I fish Mille Lacs and know all the launch people. No
Chip around here.
Chips Few Accomplishments Include:
Voting against raising the federal debt ceiling ,that resulted in a reduction in the former stellar credit rating of the USA ,because he was sending a message, in keeping with the Tea Party policy of lets NOT get it done "philosophy" .
Voted for cutting funds for the long standing National
Rural Air Service Program ,which resulted in having a negative impact on all airports in his district except Duluth, including the Brainerd MN airport.
Voted against funding for the high speed rail line between the Twin Cities and Duluth that many individuals had been working on for years. Guess since Duluth HAS air service, high speed rail would be too European or socialistic ?Duluth line was to be part of states planned infrastructure out of our of newly remodeled St Paul rail hub that linked up to light rail and North Star Lines.
Does NOT support Planned Parenthood services ,or Public Broadcasting.
Seems to support eliminating environmental safeguards put in place to protect the BWCA ,from mining that will destroy the water quality and endanger the wilderness ,many have tried to protect for good reason.
Since Chip is NOT from around here and now calls New Hamphire home ,really think he should have at least gone out on a few US Coast Guard approved/regulated fishing charters on Superior , Lake of the Woods ,Rainy Lake ,or Mille Lacs for that matter , so he at least have a clue, what he is screwing with. Ask the DNR how many people didnt come back from a lake this year.
You have to hate it when government gets involved with Marine safety !
Lets just hope & pray its ,ONE & DONE for the Chipster !!!
When Minnesotans go to the polls, they will look at the records,and they will vote for the candidates who are willing to lead ,extreme Republicans like Chip Cravaack DO NOT PUT MINNESOTA AND THE COUNTRY FIRST !
Chip Cravaak, captron won't be voting for him, but I will!
Thank god there won't be the boondoggle of high speed (not really very fast) rail from the twin cities to the casinos and Duluth! We do not have the population density for it to ever make any sense! Chip just got some legislation passed that will require the use of steel made in the U.S.A. I am glad he voted not to raise our debt ceiling, I think we a in the red by enough trillions of dollars. Chip will win, and I am thankful Diamond Jim O. lost by a landslide.
I won't
Rick Nolan is the one.