Letter from Senator Stabenow on Asian Carp Situation

[djkimmel]

Got this email today:
Dear Daniel,

I am writing to give you an update on my work to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. The recent discovery of an Asian carp in Lake Calumet, very close to Lake Michigan, should serve as a wake-up call to government agencies about the urgency of this situation.

Today, I introduced legislation to permanently prevent Asian carp and other invasive species from entering the Great Lakes. Congressman Dave Camp (R-Michigan) has introduced our bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives as well. The Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act requires the Army Corps of Engineers to follow the recommendations of top experts in the field and expedite their study detailing the engineering options to permanently separate the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes.

In the Senate, my bill is co-sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Senator Carl Levin (D-Michigan), and other Great Lakes Senators. A permanent separation of the waterways would allow cargo to pass through the Chicago locks, but would prevent the water itself, and any invasive species living in it, from entering Lake Michigan.

I also recently spoke about this issue on the floor of the Senate, so my colleagues would know how urgent this issue is for us in Michigan. You can watch the speech on YouTube at (see below).

The Great Lakes are Michigan's most precious natural resource, and they are a part of our way of life. I will never stop fighting to protect them.

Sincerely,
Debbie Stabenow
United States Senator

[djkimmel]

Here's her speech:

[mikesmiph]

Thanks for keeping us updated, Dan.

[River Rat]

I got that one yesterday morning as well and was going to forward it to you but then I remembered the natural pecking order here and figured you got a msg first!

They need to do something fast!  it's good to finally see somebody from IL finally stepping up instead of cowering to 200 barge workers...