Huizenga Amendment to H.R. 2838

Floor Speech

* Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express concerns with the Huizenga amendment to H.R. 2838 and my fear that it could result in great damage to the efforts underway here in Congress to protect the Great Lakes from the many threats it faces, including invasive species and pollution.

* There is no question that addressing the invasive species in ballast water is needed to protect the Great Lakes and other water bodies from these aggressive nonnative species that can destroy the natural ecosystem. Once these species are introduced, the costs to the environment and taxpayers only grow. Just look at the costs to the Great Lake states and the federal government to fight the sea lamprey and the current battle to keep the Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes. A strong federal ballast water treatment standard protects both the environment and the taxpayer.

* We know ballast water is a primary vector for the introduction of invasive species. The bill before us would set a needed national ballast water treatment standard to protect our nation's waters. However, the Huizenga amendment would create one large loophole that would allow ``historic'' vessels to be excluded from complying with the new standards.

* No science has been put forward to this body showing that these vessels--because of their historic nature--are not an avenue of introduction for aquatic invasive species. We should be less concerned about the historic nature of the vessel and more about the potential menace caused by hitchhikers in their ballast water. I don't have a problem with recognizing history or historic vessels. I just have a problem with absolving them from making efforts to prevent a historic invasion of nonnative species.

* Invasive species do not care about the character of the vessel through which they are brought into the Great Lakes and neither should any national ballast water treatment standard. I note the recent editorial by the Chicago Tribune about the failings of this amendment.

* I urge my colleagues to work to make sure that this amendment is not included in a final bill as it would undermine long needed efforts to create a strong and effective national ballast water standard and ensure strong protections for our nation's bodies of water, including the Great Lakes.

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