James Oberstar: “Among some of the highlights are a provision that is of great importance to the 35 million people who live along the…”

“Among some of the highlights are a provision that is of great importance to the 35 million people who live along the Great Lakes. There is a provision to direct the Secretary of the Army, along with directors of other agencies and entities, to carry out an emergency project to control and prevent spreading a viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus in the Great Lakes and the connecting channels. It is an infectious viral disease of fish and has caused fish kills throughout the lakes. It has been a problem in Europe, it is a problem in Japan, and now we have confirmed presence in Lake Ontario, Lake St. Clair, Erie, St. Lawrence River. It was discovered in Lake Huron. It is migrating up the lakes, killing fish in its wake caused by ballast water that is infected on vessels plying the Great Lakes. It spreads rapidly. We don't really know how it spreads, but we need to attack this issue now.”