WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), who serves as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, applauded the inclusion of a Missouri River Study in the bipartisan Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2015 and 2016. The bill passed both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate this week. Blunt worked to get the “Report Reconciling Maintenance and Operational Priorities on the Missouri River” included in the bill.

“The Missouri River is an essential asset to our state’s economy and competitiveness, as well as our nation’s security,” Blunt said. “I’m pleased this important Missouri River Study was included in the bill, and I look forward to the report addressing several critical issues. Specifically, I hope to learn more about the consistent failure of the Coast Guard to accurately find and mark a safe channel with buoys and to properly schedule maintenance for cutter boats in accordance with the Missouri River navigation season.”

Language in the bill states that no later than one year after the law is enacted, the Coast Guard Commandant will provide a report outlining a course of action to reconcile general maintenance priorities for cutters with operational priorities on the Missouri River. The report will be submitted to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.