On the recordMarch 17, 1999
The Mackinaw indeed is a worthy ship, but it is also an old ship and will not be able to operate much longer. And the Great Lakes depend mightily upon the efforts of that ship, particularly in the colder months. I would also point out in relation to the comments from the gentleman from Minnesota that the Great Lakes are really misnamed. They should be called the 'great seas' because in fact they are seas. And that is why the Coast Guard plays such an important role in these bodies of water. It is very important to recognize their magnitude. And not only are they 20 percent of the world's fresh water supply, they are 95 percent of the United States' surface fresh water, and that is a very important factor in our country's future.
Source
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