WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today joined Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in introducing bipartisan legislation to prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes and destroying the Lakes' ecosystem. The Stop Invasive Species Act would require the speedy creation of an action plan to block Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes through a number of rivers and tributaries across the Great Lakes region.
“We need to act now to prevent Asian Carp from infiltrating Lake Erie and threatening the fishing and boating industries that rely on a healthy lake,” said Senator Casey. “This bill would expedite the creation of an aggressive plan to stop Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes at 18 points of entry and protect the communities along Lake Erie that depend on the lake for recreation and commerce.”
The Stop Invasive Species Act requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to submit to Congress an expedited action plan with options for stopping Asian carp from penetrating the Great Lakes across 18 possible points of entry. The bill requires the Army Corps to submit a progress report to Congress and the President within 90 days of the law's enactment. The full plan would need to be completed within 18 months.
Under the Stop Invasive Species Act, the Army Corps would continue to examine modes of transportation across key waterways to ensure shipping could continue while mechanisms for preventing Asian carp from destroying the Great Lakes are implemented.
The bill is supported by the Great Lakes Commission, The Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Alliance for the Great Lakes, Healing our Waters Coalition, National Wildlife Federation and Trout Unlimited.
In addition to Senator Casey, other original cosponsors include Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Carl Levin (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN).
Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI) introduced companion legislation in the House.
