President Donald Trump signed a bill Wednesday that ensures the Canal Corridor Association's canal boat, The Volunteer, in La Salle is exempt from regulations that apply to larger commercial boats.
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, said he added language about The Volunteer into the bill known as the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2019, which involves the Coast Guard and resolves issues between federal agencies regarding regulations to protect marine resources.
In the bill, the Illinois and Michigan Canal is deemed to not be navigable waters, for the sake of the canal boat used for tourism. This will limit what Kinzinger called "overly burdensome regulations."
The Volunteer is a 70-passenger, mule-pulled 1840s replica canal boat that moves along the canal.
