Senators introduce bipartisan legislation to keep Asian carp out of Great Lakes

Talk about it

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with eight other senators, introduced bipartisan legislation to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The bill builds on the Minnesota delegation members’ bipartisan legislation to fight the spread of Asian carp in Minnesota’s waterways.

“The spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes would have a disastrous ecological impact and harm Minnesota’s recreation and fishing industries that are so important to our state’s economy,” Klobuchar said. “It is vital that we take action to work on effective barriers that will prevent the spread of Asian carp and protect our waterways.”

"The spread of Asian carp and other invasive species is a threat to our native wildlife and to tourism in Minnesota and throughout the Great Lakes region," said Franken. "We need to take immediate action to stop the spread of these species in order to protect jobs, maintain our environmental balance, and preserve our lakes and rivers for future generations."

Klobuchar and Franken, along with Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Carl Levin (D-MI), Robert Casey (D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), introduced The Stop Invasive Species Act to require the speedy creation of an action plan to block Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. The bill 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 also 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.

Last month, Klobuchar and Franken, along with Representatives Keith Ellison, Erik Paulsen, and Tim Walz, introduced The Upper Mississippi Conservation and River Protection Act (Upper Mississippi CARP Act) which would kick-start the process to consider closing the Upper St. Anthony Falls Dam to help stop the spread of the invasive species, as well as require immediate closure if Asian carp are found. In addition, the bill would direct federal agencies to partner with Minnesota on efforts to root out infestations and prevent the spread of Asian carp in the state’s rivers.

Tags: news, updates, politics, carp