McCollum Commends U.S. Senate for Unanimous Passage of Comprehensive Strategy to Battle Asian Carp

For Immediate Release: May 9, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

Washington, DC – Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) commends the U.S. Senate for unanimously approving an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (S. 301) offered by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Robert Casey (D-PA). This amendment establishes a comprehensive strategy to combat Asian Carp in the Mississippi River and Ohio River basins. The amendment language, approved yesterday, is identical to bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House – the Strategic Response to Asian Carp Invasion Act (H.R. 358) – introduced by McCollum and Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA).

“I applaud the terrific work of Senator Sherrod Brown and his partners Senators Toomey and Casey to move this comprehensive strategy to combat Asian Carp forward. The federal government needs to confront this destructive invasion with urgency and a strategy that coordinates federal agencies and resources with state and local partners. Asian Carp are on the move and will extend their environmental and economic destruction in Minnesota’s waterways unless a significant response is put into place. The threat posed by Asian Carp is far too substantial for piecemeal approaches. Now it’s time for Congress to stand up to Asian Carp.”

H.R. 358 puts the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in charge of coordinating a new federal multi-agency effort that includes the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Army Corps of Engineers. Agencies will provide high-level technical assistance to support state and local governments that are working to protect economies and ecosystems from Asian Carp.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and the Environment.

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