WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10), a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, today commended the scheduling of a hearing to review of the threat Asian carp has on the Great Lakes. In November, Rep. Miller called for the subcommittee to review how Asian carp may have circumvented the barriers placed in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and are heading towards Lake Michigan. The Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing will take place on February 9th, at 2:00pm in Washington, D.C.

“The Great Lakes represent our nation’s most important national treasure and today they are facing a grave threat,” said Miller. “I asked the Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the subcommittee to hold this hearing because if the Asian carp is allowed to enter the Great Lakes it would cause irreparable harm to their ecosystem. I commend the subcommittee for answering this call and scheduling this hearing to discuss actions that must be taken to defend the lakes.

“With the U.S. Supreme Court today deciding not to take immediate action, it is vital that Congress acts now. Congress must consider passing legislation to permanently close the Chicago area locks and waterways to keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. We also need to discuss other actions that can be taken and what resources the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will need to fend off the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes,” Rep. Miller concluded.

Due to their aggressive appetites, Asian carp have the potential to dominate ecosystems and alter the food chain. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in conjunction with other governmental entities, has been engaged in efforts to contain Asian carp in the Mississippi River system.

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