Glenn Grothman: “First of all, I would like to thank the chair and ranking member for their collaborative effort to bring this bill…”

“First of all, I would like to thank the chair and ranking member for their collaborative effort to bring this bill forward. This amendment, which is supported by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, is pretty simple. It requires Federal decisionmakers in the Department of the Interior to consider the threat of invasive species when installing fishways. This was brought to my attention while looking at a dam on the Wisconsin River in Wisconsin. Below that dam, we had Asian carp, an invasive species, a huge fish. If that fish was able to get further north on the Wisconsin River, because of a fishway, you could wind up with this invasive species not only in the northern part of the river, but, and quite frankly, in dozens of lakes throughout northern Wisconsin. As a matter of fact, given where that dam is, if there is even flooding, that invasive species could wind up working its way into Lake Michigan and up the Saint Lawrence Seaway. It is very important that before the Department of the Interior listens to certain environmentalists, they realize that a fishway at this dam would result in big trouble. Because of the devastating effects invasive species can have on the environment, local fish population, and the economy, this amendment will ensure the Federal agencies take into account all consequences before installing fishways. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record a letter from Alliant Energy. Alliant Energy, November 8, 2017. Hon.…”