Slaughter introduces legislation to block Asian Carp

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, co-chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, announced this week she has introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the speedy creation of an action plan to block Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes through a number of rivers and tributaries.

The Stop Invasive Species Act, H.R. 4406, was introduced by Slaughter along with Republican Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan. Slaughter has been a long-time champion of the Great Lakes, understanding that the lakes are the largest source of freshwater on earth and need to be protected for future generations, not only because they support the local ecosystem, but also because they are a leading economic driver for communities across New York.

The Stop Invasive Species Act 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 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.

Under the Stop Invasive Species Act, the Army Corps would continue to examine modes of transportation across key waterways to ensure shipping could continue while mechanisms for preventing Asian carp from destroying the Great Lakes are implemented.