Bill Text: MI SR0217 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: A resolution to urge the Congress of the United States to make every effort to expedite and fund the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin Interbasin Study and to ensure Asian carp do not invade the Great Lakes.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-12-29 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SR0217 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2009-SR0217-Introduced.html

            Senator Birkholz offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 217.

            A resolution to urge the Congress of the United States to make every effort to expedite and fund the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin Interbasin Study and to ensure Asian carp do not invade the Great Lakes.

            Whereas, Man-made channels in the Chicago Area Waterway System connect the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. This artificial connection provides a pathway for aquatic invasive species in the Mississippi River system to enter the Great Lakes and vice versa with the potential for severe ecological and economic impacts; and

            Whereas, Asian carp may currently be using the man-made connections between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River system to successfully invade the Great Lakes and its tributaries. Asian carp represent one of the greatest, but also preventable, threats to the natural resources of the Great Lakes and to the way of life these resources support; and

            Whereas, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a three-year study to analyze the situation and recommend solutions. The Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) has the potential to provide the definitive roadmap for preventing future invasions between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River system, not just a balancing of economic and environmental concerns; and

            Whereas, The current threat from Asian carp is immediate and substantial. Every effort must be made to expedite this study, and every necessary action must be taken to prevent Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes and its tributaries while we await the results of this study. Each day lost is additional time for Asian carp and other invasive species to become established and permanently change life on the Great Lakes or the Mississippi River system; and

            Whereas, Fully funding the study over the course of its work is imperative to resolving the current Asian carp crisis and preventing future invasions. While funding is available for 2011, failure to fully fund the GLMRIS in future years could lead to delays in completing the study when time is of the utmost importance; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Congress of the United States to make every effort to expedite and fund the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basin Interbasin Study and to ensure Asian carp do not invade the Great Lakes; and be it further

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

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