119-hres869

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 869 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 869

 Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Edmund 
 Fitzgerald.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 November 10, 2025

 Mr. Bergman (for himself, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Huizenga, Ms. Tenney, Mr. 
 James, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Wied, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Moolenaar, Mrs. 
Dingell, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Latta, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Moore of 
Alabama, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Steil, Ms. Tlaib, and Mr. 
Stauber) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Edmund 
 Fitzgerald.

Whereas the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freighter, was christened into 
 service on June 8, 1958, at River Rouge, Michigan;
Whereas, at the time of her launch, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest vessel 
 ever to sail the Great Lakes and remained so for thirteen years, 
 measuring 729 feet in length and capable of carrying 13,632 gross tons 
 of cargo;
Whereas the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew embodied the proud tradition of Great 
 Lakes mariners whose skill and dedication have long supported the 
 industries and communities of the American heartland;
Whereas, on November 10, 1975, while transporting a load of taconite ore from 
 Superior, Wisconsin, to Zug Island, Michigan, the Edmund Fitzgerald 
 encountered a violent storm with hurricane-force winds and waves 
 exceeding 30 feet, and sank in Lake Superior approximately 17 miles from 
 Whitefish Point near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, claiming the lives of 
 all 29 crew members aboard;
Whereas the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains one of the deadliest tragedies 
 in Great Lakes maritime history and stands as a solemn reminder of the 
 dangers faced by those who sustain the flow of commerce on America's 
 waterways;
Whereas the memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew has been preserved 
 through annual commemorations, bell ringing ceremonies, memorial and 
 church services, and the ongoing stewardship of museums, historians, and 
 maritime organizations;
Whereas lessons learned from the tragedy have contributed to significant 
 advances in maritime safety, including improvements in vessel design and 
 inspection, weather forecasting, communications, navigation technology, 
 crew training, and port readiness across the Great Lakes region and 
 throughout the country;
Whereas the United States is a proud maritime Nation whose strength and 
 prosperity have long depended on maritime commerce across its oceans, 
 inland waterways, and the Great Lakes, and whose shipbuilders, mariners, 
 and port communities have powered American industry and trade since the 
 Nation's founding;
Whereas the legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew continues to inspire 
 reverence for the men and women who serve in America's maritime 
 industries and remembrance of those who have perished upon the water; 
 and
Whereas November 10, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the 
 Edmund Fitzgerald: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the 
 S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald;

    (2) honors the memory of the 29 crew members who lost their 
 lives on November 10, 1975;

    (3) recognizes the enduring contributions of Great Lakes 
 shipping to the economic strength, security, and cultural 
 heritage of the United States; and

    (4) acknowledges the continued efforts of historians, 
 museums, mariners, and Great Lakes communities to preserve the 
 memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald and promote maritime education.
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