Stabenow Applauds Action Requiring Release of Study to Stop Asian Carp

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Co-Chair of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, today applauded news that the Senate Appropriations Committee included language in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill requiring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release a critical study to stop Asian carp within thirty days of the bill’s enactment.  The study, which will provide important guidance on how best to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes, was supposed to be released in February but has been delayed indefinitely by the Trump Administration.  

“Today’s news is an important step toward getting the Army Corps to release this report so we can stop invasive species like Asian carp from entering our Great Lakes,” said Senator Stabenow.  “This report is especially urgent given that a live silver carp was recently discovered just nine miles from Lake Michigan.  There is no time to waste and I will work with my colleagues to make sure this language becomes law.”

Earlier this year, Stabenow introduced the Stop Asian Carp Act with Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, the Co-Chair of the House Great Lakes Task Force.  The Energy and Water Appropriations language included in the Senate Appropriations bill is very similar to the language in Stabenow’s legislation.  The bill also requires the Army Corps to institute mandatory navigation protocols recommended by the Fish and Wildlife Service that would reduce the chances of vessels in the Illinois River inadvertently transporting invasive species like Asian carp safely through the electric barrier.