The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), BoatUS and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) met with key staff members in Rep. Candice Miller’s (R-MI) office March 28 to discuss the history and potential impact of the expanding Asian carp threat in the Great Lakes. Miller introduced H.R. 4001, the Defending  Against Aquatic Invasive Species Act, February 5. The bill currently has four co-sponsors.

(Note: Washington Watch reported on H.R. 4001 in the March 2014 edition)

According to Miller’s staff, H.R. 4001 will most likely not be enacted this year; however, Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) is expected to introduce a compromise bill in the coming weeks that would authorize the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to install two additional electronic barriers near the first lock on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. These new barriers would be in addition to the three electronic barriers already in place.

Camp’s bill demonstrates continued support for an engineering solution to prevent further proliferation of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.