MACHIASPORT, ME – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a founding member of the Senate Arctic Caucus, released the following statement today in response to President Obama’s expected call to increase the U.S. fleet of icebreakers that operate in the Arctic and Antarctic regions:‎

“As human activity in the Arctic grows, so, too, does the need for American leadership,” Senator King said. “A robust national fleet of icebreakers will be central to enhancing our capabilities in the region and positioning the U.S. to play a meaningful role in the responsible stewardship of this new frontier. I welcome the President’s call today and look forward to working with his Administration and members of Congress to see that the appropriate resources are provided to ensure a strong fleet of icebreakers in the years and decades to come.”

According to a New York Times report, President Obama is expected to call today for the U.S. to accelerate its acquisition and building of icebreakers to operate in the Arctic. The U.S. currently only has two fully functional icebreakers.‎ Senator King, who is also a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has repeatedly called for an increase in the number of icebreakers ‎owned and operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.‎  

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