House Passes Bill To Fund State Park Landing Craft
By Karen Gould

Funding for a new freight boat for Mackinac Island State Park passed the U.S. House of Representatives late Tuesday, July 24. The bill sets aside $300,000 in the 2008 budget to replace the current 1952 surplus Navy landing craft the park operates. A similar bill that includes the funding now awaits passage by the U.S. Senate.

"We're thrilled," said Phil Porter, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP) about the bill's passage. "We've been hoping to replace our current barge, which is 54 years old, with a newer, possibly larger vessel."

The boat is used for a number of tasks related to park maintenance and improvements, including transporting rubbish to the mainland and shipping supplies to the Island.

"It's one of the most valuable tools we have in our Island park system," said Mr. Porter.

Congressman Bart Stupak of Menominee, whose wife, Laurie, sits on the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, has sought federal appropriations to replace the aging vessel for three years.

News of the boat funds came as the park was preparing to take delivery of two new snow plow trucks Wednesday, July 25. Nearly $200,000 to replace the 15-year-old and 19- year-old plows was spearheaded by Mr. Stupak. The plows are used to keep Island roads accessible during the winter months for emergency vehicles and horse-drawn carriages that transport residents, visitors, and supplies. They also keep the Island airport runway open, which is the main access to the Island after ferry boats stop running in the winter.

The 2008 funds for the boat are part of legislation appropriating $50.7 billion for the Transportation Department and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

While specific projects in the appropriations bill can be challenged at any time, including during the conference committee process, Mr. Stupak said he would work throughout the process to protect projects in the bill that are important to northern Michigan.

"Since the early 1970s, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission has used a landing craft to transport a wide range of materials on and off Mackinac Island," said Mr. Stupak. "This vessel has been an invaluable tool in accomplishing the management goals of this world class park."

The House passed the bill by a vote of 268 to 153. The Senate must now take up its version of the bill. If that bill passes the Senate, the House and Senate bills will be reconciled through a conference committee. Once the final version is passed by both House and Senate, the bill will be sent to the president.

While no timeline can be placed on the bill, Alex Haurek, press secretary for Congressman Stupak, told The Mackinac Island Town Crier Wednesday, July 25, the House and Senate usually try to get appropriation bills passed by fall.