Kaptur Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Counter Asian Carp
WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur joined 18 Great Lakes colleagues to introduce the Defending Our Great Lakes Act. This bipartisan bill would give federal agencies broad authority to stop the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species, including the installation of a new barrier that would help prevent Asian carp from further destabilizing the Great Lakes ecosystem. The bill is sponsored by Representative Candice Miller (R-MI) and supported by the four co-chairs of the House Great Lakes Task Force. Rep. Kaptur was elected to serve as a new Co-Chair of the Task Force earlier this month.
“The Asian carp invasion poses an immediate and growing threat to the ecosystem of the Great Lakes and the multi-billion dollar fishing and tourism industries that depend on it,” said Kaptur. “This bill is a step forward as we fight to prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from gaining a foothold in the GreatLakes, and helps equip agencies with the tools necessary to support this effort.
The proposed legislation would give federal agencies broad authority to fight the spread of Asian carp and other invasive species. It would assign the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the authority to take near-term and long-term actions to prevent the spread of invasive species, at a critical control point in the Chicago Area Waterway System—the Brandon Road Lock and Dam. It would also establish a testing ground for certain invasive species control technologies. Finally it would require agencies to work with stakeholders in the region to institute long-term measures to help stop the spread of invasive species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basins.
The following Representatives are original co-sponsors: Dan Benishek (R-MI), Mike Bishop (R-MI), John Conyers (D-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), David Joyce (R-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Sandy Levin (D-MI), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Rick Nolan (D-MN), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), Dave Trott (R-MI), Fred Upton (R-MI) and Tim Walberg (R-MI). A companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).
This legislation is supported by the Great Lakes Commission, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, National Wildlife Federation, Great Lakes Metro Chamber of Commerce, Healing our Waters Coalition, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Michigan Trout Unlimited, Michigan United Conservation Clubs.
Contact: Matt Sonneborn, (202) 225-4146 or Matt.Sonneborn@mail.house.gov
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