On the recordFebruary 17, 2011
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.
