James Oberstar: “the issue of pilotage rates on the Great Lakes is one of the most vexing matters that I have had to deal with going back…”

“the issue of pilotage rates on the Great Lakes is one of the most vexing matters that I have had to deal with going back to my service with my predecessor as the administrative assistant when we had so many problems with the Great Lakes Pilotage Administration. We once had an administrator of that agency who would go off to his farm in Northern Virginia over the weekends when he was needed most. We could not find him. They needed regulations changed or approvals to undertake certain activities; we could not find this guy. It has just been a big headache over the years. We have shifted back and forth between the Coast Guard and the pilotage administration and who is going to administer it. I think it has now been on track. Again, pilotage has sort of been a football kicked back and forth between Coast Guard and DOT by the Office of Management and Budget; and in the process, pilots have been stiffed, to be very honest with the gentleman.”