November 10, 2025
Mr. Bergman (for himself, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Huizenga, Ms. Tenney, Mr. James, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Wied, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Moolenaar, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Walberg, Mr. Latta, Mr. Finstad, Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Miller of Ohio, Mr. Barrett, Mr. Steil, Ms. Tlaib, and Mr. Stauber) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald.
Whereas the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freighter, was christened into service on June 8, 1958, at River Rouge, Michigan;
Whereas, at the time of her launch, the Edmund Fitzgerald was the largest vessel ever to sail the Great Lakes and remained so for thirteen years, measuring 729 feet in length and capable of carrying 13,632 gross tons of cargo;
Whereas the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew embodied the proud tradition of Great Lakes mariners whose skill and dedication have long supported the industries and communities of the American heartland;
Whereas, on November 10, 1975, while transporting a load of taconite ore from Superior, Wisconsin, to Zug Island, Michigan, the Edmund Fitzgerald encountered a violent storm with hurricane-force winds and waves exceeding 30 feet, and sank in Lake Superior approximately 17 miles from Whitefish Point near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, claiming the lives of all 29 crew members aboard;
Whereas the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains one of the deadliest tragedies in Great Lakes maritime history and stands as a solemn reminder of the dangers faced by those who sustain the flow of commerce on America’s waterways;
Whereas the memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew has been preserved through annual commemorations, bell ringing ceremonies, memorial and church services, and the ongoing stewardship of museums, historians, and maritime organizations;
Whereas lessons learned from the tragedy have contributed to significant advances in maritime safety, including improvements in vessel design and inspection, weather forecasting, communications, navigation technology, crew training, and port readiness across the Great Lakes region and throughout the country;
Whereas the United States is a proud maritime Nation whose strength and prosperity have long depended on maritime commerce across its oceans, inland waterways, and the Great Lakes, and whose shipbuilders, mariners, and port communities have powered American industry and trade since the Nation’s founding;
Whereas the legacy of the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew continues to inspire reverence for the men and women who serve in America’s maritime industries and remembrance of those who have perished upon the water; and
Whereas November 10, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald: Now, therefore, be it
That the House of Representatives—
(1)
commemorates the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald;
(2)
honors the memory of the 29 crew members who lost their lives on November 10, 1975;
(3)
recognizes the enduring contributions of Great Lakes shipping to the economic strength, security, and cultural heritage of the United States; and
(4)
acknowledges the continued efforts of historians, museums, mariners, and Great Lakes communities to preserve the memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald and promote maritime education.