Sen. Franken Calls on Trump Administration to Help Stop Spread of Asian Carp into Lake Superior

Press Release

Sen. Al Franken is calling on the Trump Administration to release a past-due recommendation of measures that will help stop the spread of Asian Carp to the Great Lakes, including Lake Superior.

A critical U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study that outlines ways to prevent Asian Carp from getting beyond the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, a crucial chokepoint for the Great Lakes and their waterways, was supposed to be released at the end of February, but has been delayed by the Trump Administration.

"We request the Administration release the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' draft proposal to prevent Asian carp from reaching and severely harming the Great Lakes," wrote Sen. Franken and the other 11 members of the Great Lakes Task Force. "We are concerned by what we understand to be a White House decision to delay and potentially modify this report that has been under development for years. When taken together with the proposal to eliminate all funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the fiscal year 2018 budget, delaying the release of this plan to address Asian carp only raises further questions about the Administration's commitment to protecting our Great Lakes."

The letter was led by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), and in addition to Sen. Franken, it was signed by Senate Great Lakes Task Force Members Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

Sen. Franken has helped lead the charge against the threat of Asian Carp to Minnesota waters. He reached across the aisle to work with Republicans on stopping the Carp from destroying the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River ecosystems, and fought to bring stronger support to a key Asian Carp initiative. Sen. Franken has also traveled with state and federal officials in person on Minnesota's waterways to discuss how to tackle the issue.

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