A bipartisan amendment sponsored by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to help prevent the invasion of Asian carp in the Ohio River basin took a big step toward becoming law Thursday and will be included in a broader water resources development bill.

Sens. Toomey and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) authored the Strategic Response to Asian Carp Invasion Act which would enable the federal government to have a more effective partnership with state and local entities that are working to slow the spread of Asian carp. The Senate agreed unanimously this afternoon that the Brown-Toomey amendment will be included in the Water Resources Development Act.

“The possible invasion of Asian carp in southwestern Pennsylvania's iconic three rivers and our state's beautiful great lake warrants action in Congress, and I am pleased that my colleagues agree that more needs to be done,” said Sen. Toomey. “These waterways are vital for both commerce and recreation, and the federal government must act as a cooperative partner with state and local governments to stop this invasive species and protect the Ohio River basin's ecosystem and economy. My amendment with Sen. Brown will help do just that, and I applaud the Senate’s strong show of support today."

“Lake Erie, an invaluable natural resource, supports local businesses and industries in Pennsylvania and is threatened by the spread of Asian carp. In fact, Lake Erie’s coastal region supports 1.2 million Pennsylvanian jobs and is an integral part of Pennsylvania’s economy,” said Pennsylvania’s other U.S. Senator Bob Casey. “We must address the threat posed by Asian carp in order to ensure that Pennsylvania’s economy remains strong and jobs are protected.”

Although several federal agencies have been working to combat Asian carp, none have been designated as the lead agency to coordinate the federal response with state and local partners in the Ohio and Upper Mississippi River Basins.

The Strategic Response to Asian Carp Invasion Act places the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in charge of coordinating a new federal multi-agency effort that includes the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and Army Corps of Engineers.

These agencies would provide high-level technical assistance, coordination, best practices, and other means of support to state and local governments that are working to protect economies and ecosystems in the Ohio River basin from Asian carp.

Environmental and waterway organizations praised this effort to protect our waterways from this invasive species.

Said John Arway, Executive Director of the Fish and Boat Commission: "The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission appreciates and applauds Sen. Toomey's leadership in addressing the Asian carp invasion front on the Ohio River. Counties in Pennsylvania's portion of the Great Lakes and Ohio River watersheds account for more than one-third of all fishing licenses and boat registrations sold in the commonwealth. As an Ohio River and Great Lakes state, we see the bill as complementary to efforts to keep Asian carp from entering Lake Erie by attacking the problem further downstream before the destructive fish get closer to potential pathways between the Ohio River and Great Lakes watersheds.”

Click Here to watch Sen. Toomey’s floor speech on the issue.

5/13/2013