Congress authorizes new Arctic icebreakers for Coast Guard

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ Congress has passed a bill authorizing the addition of Coast Guard Polar Security Cutters for use as icebreakers, and an Alaska senator said the Trump administration is

considering leasing an icebreaker owned by a Republican donor.

The Coast Guard has two icebreakers, but only one is operating following an August fire that damaged the cutter Healy. Ongoing construction work on a new icebreaker is not expected to be finished until 2024.

The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act is part of the National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress for Fiscal Year 2021.

Republic...