Moment of Silence in Remembrance of Members of Armed Forces and Their Families
Floor Speech
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Mr. PENCE. Mr. Chair, I move to strike the requisite number of words.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Chair, I do rise today in opposition to the amendment offered by my friend and colleague, Mr. Camp, from Michigan. And let me say, I think I take a second chair to no one in my respect for the gentleman from Michigan. I respect his passion and his leadership on the Ways and Means Committee and his passion for the ecosystem known as the Great Lakes. I know it's sincere and it's real. And this problem is real.
Anyone who has taken more than a passing glance at the issue of Asian carp recognizes that this is a serious but manageable threat to the Great Lakes region. It is one that deserves the continued attention of this Congress and this administration and the States within the Great Lakes region.
But that being said, I rise in opposition to the Camp amendment for the following reasons:
Principally, because I believe that this amendment would have a devastating effect on Hoosier jobs and the Ports of Indiana.
The Camp amendment would prohibit the Army Corps of Engineers from operating the navigation locks located in the city of Chicago.
It is the only waterway in the Great Lakes system with access to the Mississippi River Basin.
The separation of the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River will cost thousands of jobs and will cause great harm to many Hoosiers who manufacture and grow our products. According to a study by the Ports of Indiana, commerce through the Chicago locks is responsible for $1.9 billion in economic activity and nearly 18,000 jobs in my home State.
In addition to the economic damage this action will inflict, I would submit respectfully that there is no evidence that actually closing the locks will definitely keep the Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife found a year ago that there is no ``combination of lock operation scenarios that experts believe would lower the risk of Asian carp establishing self-sustaining populations in Lake Michigan.''
In fact, according to the Asian Carp Working Group, there are dozens of alternative methods fully to be explored. And Indiana is fully participating in the Federal Government-led effort to stop the Asian carp migration. Electronic barriers have shown promise. We need to continue energetically to work in that area. The gentlewoman from Illinois also outlined different areas.
Let me say, while I urge my colleagues to oppose the Camp amendment, allow me to use this moment to say that we will continue to lock arms with the gentleman from Michigan, with our neighbors in Michigan, our neighbors in Illinois to deal with what is a very, very real threat to the ecosystem, to commerce in the area, and to the enjoyment of the waterways in the area.
Mr. CAMP. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. PENCE. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.
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Mr. PENCE. I was pleased to yield to the gentleman.
Let me just say that the demonstration projects of the electronic fence began slightly before 2006. The fence and the studies are ongoing.
Let me say, on behalf of other Hoosiers in that delegation, we're not patient to wait 5 years for action. We will continue to work with the gentleman from Michigan to work, Mr. Chairman, on behalf of immediate action and continue to call on this administration. The economic impacts are devastating. The impact on the ecosystem broadly would be equally devastating, and so we join the gentleman from Michigan in calling for urgent action by this Congress and this administration.
I just respectfully offer that both with regard to its economic impact and with regard to its questionable effectiveness, that dealing with this from the standpoint of the locks and this continuing resolution is not the best approach. So I urge my colleagues to oppose the Camp amendment.
I yield back the balance of my time.
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