[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 494 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 494

   Observing the 50th anniversary of the date on which the SS Edmund 
Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior, and remembering the 29 lives lost in 
       one of the worst storms ever recorded on the Great Lakes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 10, 2025

  Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Mr. Young, Mr. Peters, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. 
  Smith, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Durbin, and Ms. Slotkin) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Observing the 50th anniversary of the date on which the SS Edmund 
Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior, and remembering the 29 lives lost in 
       one of the worst storms ever recorded on the Great Lakes.

Whereas, on November 9, 1975, the Fitzgerald left the port of Superior, 
        Wisconsin, captained by Ernest McSorley with a crew of 28 men;
Whereas Captain McSorley had 44 years of experience and a crew of men from 
        Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, and 
        California;
Whereas the SS Edmund Fitzgerald measured 729 feet long and, at the time of 
        construction, was the largest ore freighter on the Great Lakes, earning 
        it the nicknames ``The Pride of the American Side,'' ``The Mighty 
        Fitz,'' and ``The Titanic of the Great Lakes'';
Whereas the Fitzgerald set multiple records, often beating its own records for 
        the most cargo carried in a single shipping season and was the first 
        ship to carry 1,000,000 tons of iron ore through the Soo Locks in Sault 
        Ste. Marie, Michigan;
Whereas the SS Edmund Fitzgerald hauled 26,116 tons of iron ore pellets destined 
        for steels mills to be used in the production of automobiles;
Whereas the storm on November 10, 1975, was named ``the storm of the century,'' 
        with gales of 100 miles per hour and 50-foot waves;
Whereas the Great Lakes region is the third largest economy in the world, and 
        its maritime system is the backbone of the region's economy, supporting 
        the livelihoods of farmers, fishers, iron ore miners, steelworkers, 
        shippers, and manufacturers;
Whereas the investigation of the wreck by the Coast Guard led to policy changes 
        that continue to improve the safety of shipping on the Great Lakes, 
        including the deployment of buoys to monitor lake conditions, an effort 
        which later grew into the Coastal-Marine Automated Network; and
Whereas the final voyage of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald was immortalized in Gordon 
        Lightfoot's famed ballad ``The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,'' helping 
        to ensure that the ship and its crew are never forgotten: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the SS 
        Edmund Fitzgerald;
            (2) expresses its support to the families of those who lost 
        their lives;
            (3) commends the courageous work of the rescue crews, the 
        Coast Guard, and the commercial vessels and their crews that 
        assisted in the initial search for survivors;
            (4) recognizes Gordon Lightfoot and all those who reside in 
        the Great Lakes region who carry on the legacy of the SS Edmund 
        Fitzgerald every day; and
            (5) reaffirms its commitment to ensuring safe shipping on 
        the Great Lakes.
                                 <all>