Stabenow, Peters Introduce Legislation Demanding Administration Release Report on Asian Carp

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters today introduced the Stop Asian Carp Now Act, which will require the Trump Administration to release the Brandon Road Study within seven days of the bill’s enactment. The Brandon Road Lock and Dam study will provide important guidance on how best to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes and is an important hurdle before further action can be taken. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force, authored companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“It’s incredibly irresponsible for the Trump Administration to continue to block the Army Corps from releasing a crucial plan to address the threat of Asian carp to our Great Lakes,” said Senator Stabenow, Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force. “Our Great Lakes are so essential to our economy and our way of life in Michigan. Our bill would require the Administration to release the report immediately so we can move forward with a permanent solution to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp.”

“We need swift action to protect the Great Lakes from the spread of invasive Asian carp to ensure our waterways remain healthy and can continue to power Michigan’s economy,” said Senator Peters. “I am proud to support this legislation that will require the Army Corps of Engineers to quickly release the Brandon Road Study so that we can immediately take the necessary measures to protect our Great Lakes ecosystem from this harmful invasive species.”

Asian carp represent a serious economic and environmental threat to the Great Lakes and this report is a critical next step in finding and implementing a solution. The report has already been delayed by the Trump Administration from its expected release in February of this year. Once the report is released a public comment period can begin, and further action can be decided in an open and transparent way.