Senators Jones, Horn, Nofs, Marleau, Rocca, Schmidt and Schuitmaker offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 22.

            A resolution to support the Attorney General's opposition to federal legislation that would weaken federal and state ballast water laws protecting our nation's waters from aquatic invasive species.

            Whereas, Aquatic invasive species are one of the most serious threats to the health of the Great Lakes and the people and businesses that depend on them. More than 180 non-native aquatic species have been introduced into the Great Lakes. Over the last sixty years, most of these species, including zebra and quagga mussels, have been introduced from oceangoing ships discharging ballast water. Once introduced and established, these harmful species are nearly impossible to eradicate and can cause millions of dollars in damage and control costs. In the Great Lakes region alone, past invasions have been estimated to have impacts of more than $100 million annually; and

            Whereas, Michigan has been a national leader in efforts to prevent the introduction of aquatic invasive species into our nation's waters. Michigan was the first state to require oceangoing ships entering state waters to treat their ballast water to kill any aquatic invasive species or not discharge ballast water; and

            Whereas, The United States Congress is currently considering legislation that would limit Michigan and other states' ability to protect their waters from aquatic invasive species. The proposed Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (S. 168) would adopt a ballast water standard weaker than Michigan law, and it would preempt this legislative body from adopting more strict standards as it sees fit to protect state waters from aquatic invasive species; and

            Whereas, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and nine other state attorneys general have taken a strong stance in support of states' rights and protecting the Great Lakes and our nation's other vital waterways. They have correctly pointed out that the proposed legislation would destroy the traditional partnership between the state and federal governments in protecting our waters and constitutes a risky, and potentially costly, step backwards in preventing future invasions of aquatic invasive species; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we support the Attorney General's opposition to federal legislation that would weaken federal and state ballast water laws protecting our nation's waters from aquatic invasive species; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Attorney General, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.