Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, joined a bipartisan group of Members of Congress from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin in requesting that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prioritize the protection of the Great Lakes region from Asian carp.
“ … The spread of Asian carp in the Great Lakes has posed a significant threat to the ecologic balance and economic viability of the Great Lakes fisheries that generate $7 billion annually,” the letter to the Committee Chairman and Ranking Member stated. “As our economy continues to slowly recover, it is necessary to ensure that preventive measures are in place to protect our Great Lakes region that supports 1.5 million U.S. jobs.”
The bipartisan letter, led by Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers, requests that the committee hold a legislative hearing on the impact of the Asian carp on the Great Lakes as well as feasible prevention and control strategies. It also asks the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment to examine projects administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and offer recommendations for a coordinated federal response to this invasive species issue.
“Our Great Lakes are our most treasured natural resource, providing for countless jobs and economic activity here in Southwest Michigan,” said Upton. “Left unchecked, this destructive species will decimate the Great Lakes ecosystem along with the industry it supports. We owe it to future generations to protect these precious waters.”
Upton is also an original cosponsor of the Asian Carp Prevention Act of 2013, H.R. 985, which directs the Secretary of the Army to coordinate and lead federal actions to prevent the spread of the invasive species in the Great Lakes and its tributaries. Those projects may include: installing electric, acoustic, air bubble, or other barriers; applying pesticides; improving the locks; and taking necessary actions at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois.
H.R. 985 further requires the Secretary to implement the emergency measures recommended in the dispersal barrier efficacy study, or provided in interim reports, authorized by Congress under the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.
A copy of the letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is below. A copy of the letter may be found HERE.
May 13, 2013
The Honorable Bill Shuster
Chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Nick Rahall
Ranking Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Shuster,
As the committee continues to prioritize legislative proposals during the 113th Congress, we respectfully request that you consider an issue critical to the health and prosperity of the Great Lakes region.
Over the past several decades, the spread of Asian carp in the Great Lakes has posed a significant threat to the ecologic balance and economic viability of the Great Lakes fisheries that generate $7 billion annually. As our economy continues to slowly recover, it is necessary to ensure that preventive measures are in place to protect our Great Lakes region that supports 1.5 million U.S. jobs.
In the 113th Congress, several legislative proposals have been introduced to prevent this invasive species from further damaging our country’s largest freshwater resource. The failure to expediently act on this critical issue will present our region with enormous economic hardships. For this reason, we ask that the committee dedicate a legislative hearing on the impact of Asian carp and feasible prevention and control strategies.
The Army Corps of Engineers has taken a lead role in monitoring aquatic species through eDNA testing and other conventional sampling methods. We encourage the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment to examine the projects administered by the Corps and offer guidance for a coordinated federal response. Action is required to ensure the Great Lakes remain a national treasure for generations to come.
We thank you for your leadership and look forward to working with the committee on remediation strategies to control the presence of Asian carp in the Great Lakes region and its tributaries.
Sincerely,
Rep. Mike J. Rogers
Rep. Dan Benishek
Rep. Dave Camp
Rep. John Conyers
Rep. Brian Higgins
Rep. Bill Huizenga
Rep. David Joyce
Rep. Ron Kind
Rep. Gary Peters
Rep. Fred Upton
Rep. Tim Walberg
cc: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
