Jack Fields: “I rise in support of H.R. 3360, the Ballast Water Management Act, authored by my friend, Chairman Lipinski of Illinois.…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3360, the Ballast Water Management Act, authored by my friend, Chairman Lipinski of Illinois. I remember when the Members of the Great Lakes delegation asked us to support their battle against the zebra mussel. We may have thought it was a bad science fiction movie, but nonindigenous species are certainly not a laughing matter. In fact, economic losses from the zebra mussel, which hitchhiked its way into the Great Lakes via ballast water, may equal $3.4 billion. Moreover, the Office of Technology Assessment has concluded that nonnative aquatic species are a threat to the entire Nation. After the extensive flooding in the Midwest washed most of the Mississippi River and its tributaries through New Orleans, I expect to see zebra mussels and other unwanted visitors in the Gulf of Mexico any day now. The need for further research on ballast water as a means of spreading unwanted aquatic species is clear. Ships need ballast water to ensure the safety of the vessel and its crew. However, over 15 million gallons of ballast water are discharged into U.S. waters every year. Because many of these vessels drew ballast water into their tanks in foreign ports, you can only imagine what harmful species may be lurking there waiting to take up residence in the United States.”