IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 869 
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the S.S. Edmund 
Fitzgerald. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
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 
RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the 
S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. 
Whereas the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freight-
er, 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:01 Nov 10, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR869.IH
HR869
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 869 IH 
dedication have long supported the industries and com-
munities of the American heartland; 
Whereas, on November 10, 1975, while transporting a load 
of taconite ore from Superior, Wisconsin, to Zug Island, 
Michigan, the Edmund Fitzgerald encountered a violent 
storm with hurricane-force winds and waves exceeding 30 
feet, and sank in Lake Superior approximately 17 miles 
from Whitefish Point near Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, 
claiming the lives of all 29 crew members aboard; 
Whereas the loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains one of 
the deadliest tragedies in Great Lakes maritime history 
and stands as a solemn reminder of the dangers faced by 
those who sustain the flow of commerce on America’s wa-
terways; 
Whereas the memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald and her crew 
has been preserved through annual commemorations, bell 
ringing ceremonies, memorial and church services, and 
the ongoing stewardship of museums, historians, and 
maritime organizations; 
Whereas lessons learned from the tragedy have contributed to 
significant advances in maritime safety, including im-
provements in vessel design and inspection, weather fore-
casting, communications, navigation technology, crew 
training, and port readiness across the Great Lakes re-
gion and throughout the country; 
Whereas the United States is a proud maritime Nation whose 
strength and prosperity have long depended on maritime 
commerce across its oceans, inland waterways, and the 
Great Lakes, and whose shipbuilders, mariners, and port 
communities have powered American industry and trade 
since the Nation’s founding; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:01 Nov 10, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR869.IH
HR869
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
•HRES 869 IH 
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 remem-
brance 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 
Resolved, 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, se-
curity, and cultural heritage of the United States; 
and 
(4) acknowledges the continued efforts of histo-
rians, museums, mariners, and Great Lakes commu-
nities to preserve the memory of the Edmund Fitz-
gerald and promote maritime education. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:01 Nov 10, 2025
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR869.IH
HR869
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB