House calls for federal action against Asian carp
Franz joins bipartisan sponsorship of measures for swift solution
The federal government needs to take immediate action to protect the Great Lakes from being overrun by the invasive Asian carp species now prevalent in the Mississippi River and Chicago canals, according to legislation approved today in the Michigan House.
Rep. Ray Franz, R-Onekama, helped sponsor House Resolutions 14-16 and House Concurrent Resolutions 7-8, to call on the U.S. Congress and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop the federal government’s plan to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes quickly, and support the Michigan Attorney General’s effort to accelerate the process.
“Michigan has been a leading watchdog to ensure the Great Lakes are protected from invasive species and we can’t stop now with the Asian carp right on the doorstop,” Franz said. “If the federal government doesn’t act quickly, maybe even closing the navigation locks or disconnecting the separate watersheds, all of those efforts will be useless and the Great Lakes destroyed.
“This is an issue all of Michigan is fully behind, regardless of what side of the aisle or region of the state you’re from.”
The package of resolutions calls on the U.S. Congress and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate actions to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes and to develop long-term strategies to protect the $7 billion Great Lake commercial and recreational fishery and the $9 billion Great Lakes recreational boating industry.
The copies of the three House resolutions will be sent to the President of the United States, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, members of the Michigan congressional delegation, U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, Division Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Great Lakes and Ohio River Division, and District Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Chicago District.
The two House concurrent resolutions now go to the Senate for consideration.
