Kaptur leads bipartisan letter calling on Trump Administration to release Asian carp evaluation, which impacts Great Lakes fisheries
Washington D.C. – Today, Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) led a bipartisan letter calling on the Trump Administration to release an Army Corps of Engineers evaluation intended to determine the possibility of establishing preventative measures against an invasion of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes. Rep. Mike Bishop (MI-08) and Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-02) were the Republican leads on the letter and twenty-six members of Congress signed onto the effort.
"The Asian carp represent an enormous threat to our Lakes. More delays mean greater threats to the Great Lakes fishery. It's time for the Army Corps to report its findings so we may get on with the actions needed to protect the Lakes," said Kaptur.
"The Great Lakes play an invaluable role in our daily life here in Michigan and neighboring states. Our environment, tourism, fishing and regional economy depend on the health and well-being of these precious waterways – and all are in serious jeopardy if we do not take action against the Asian Carp and fellow invasive species," said Bishop. "I urge the President to direct the Army Corps of Engineers to immediately begin working with the states and local organizations on implementing a long-term strategy to protect and preserve the Great Lakes before potential damage is done."
"In order to protect both the ecosystem and the economy of the Great Lakes, we must have complete, accurate, and reliable information from the Army Corps of Engineers," said Huizenga. "Delaying the release of the Brandon Road Lock and Dam evaluation does nothing to stop the threat Asian Carp and other invasive species pose to the largest freshwater ecosystem on the planet. By slow walking this important information, the federal government is jeopardizing the livelihood of hardworking families in Michigan and across the Great Lakes Basin. Time is of the essence."
This comes after news the Trump Administration delayed the release of the evaluation.
Read the letter here:
SignedBrandonRoadStudyLTRtoPOTUS.pdf