House Action on Appropriations Bills Moves Great Lakes Region One Step Closer to Preventing Invasive Asian Carp

Chicago, IL (July 31, 2020) – Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Defense, Commerce, Justice, Science, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2021. The bill includes provisions that would advance efforts to keep invasive Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes. Funding and language urging the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to use the funds for the next phase of work at Brandon Road Lock and Dam (Preconstruction, Engineering and Design) is included in the bill.

Alliance for the Great Lakes Vice President for Policy Molly Flanagan released this statement in response:

“Today’s action shows Congress is serious about preventing invasive Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes. These harmful fish would damage our regional economy and devastate the Great Lakes ecosystem. Building additional protection measures at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, which is located near Joliet, IL, and a critical choke point in the waterways leading to the Great Lakes, is the best chance to stop these aggressive fish. We look forward to quick action by the U.S. Senate.

We urge Illinois Governor Pritzker to immediately sign the Design Agreement that would allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to proceed to the next phase of the project—Preconstruction, Engineering and Design. Continued delay unnecessarily puts the Great Lakes at risk.”

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For media inquiries contact Jennifer Caddick, jcaddick@greatlakes.org.