Having grown up just yards from the shores of Lake Michigan and the St. Joseph River Channel, Congressman Fred Upton is feeling the pain of those eager to get out onto the open water with a bit of locomotion yet still restricted by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s shelter-in-place orders which allow canoeing or kayaking, but not motorboating.
Upton has sent a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer today, urging her to scale back restrictions on motorized boating.
Upton argues, “With boating season quickly approaching, we believe that motorized boating can be done safely and responsibly while following social distancing and the CDC’s guidelines for COVID19,” and contends, “Michiganders can get on a small motorboat with their family or a personal watercraft and enjoy the outdoors with minimal risk of coming into contact with those outside their home.”
Under the Governor’s current executive order, only self-propelled boats like kayaks or canoes are allowed to be used in Michigan. Recreational boating has a $617 million economic impact in Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District and supports over 3,400 direct jobs and more than 140 businesses. There are currently over 70,000 registered boats in Upton’s District.
You can read Upton’s full letter to the Governor by clicking this link:
Upton-Letter-to-Whitmer-On-Motorized-Boating
*****UPDATE*****
On Friday morning, Gov. Whitmer did, in fact, remove the restrictions on motorboat activity, and Congressman Upton has responded commending her after she announced her decision to relax restrictions on motorized boating in Michigan:
“Michigan is the Great Lakes State, and boating is a way of life for so many Michiganders. I’m glad to see Governor Whitmer was on board with my suggestion to relax the restrictions on motorized boating here in Michigan. As boating season quickly approaches, families can now use a personal watercraft or motorboat and enjoy the great outdoors while following the CDC’s social distancing guidelines. Pulling away from that dock on a sunny afternoon is a favorite time-honored family tradition. It’s full steam ahead for Michigan boaters.
We commend Governor Whitmer for amending this part of her order, as well as several others, with commonsense adjustments that will be much appreciated and enjoyed. Tourism and small businesses are the lifeblood of our state, and we will continue to work with Governor Whitmer to flip that sign from closed to open.”
