U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) joined a bipartisan congressional call for state conservation officials in Michigan and Ohio to provide an accounting of efforts undertaken to combat invasive species in the Great Lakes that threaten local ecosystems and economies.
Joyce joined a letter that called on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to detail efforts to combat the invasive grass carp, one of four species of Asian carp that are consuming Great Lakes wetlands.
“Billions of dollars of annual economic activity and hundreds of thousands of jobs are directly tied to the health of the Great Lakes and its wetlands,” the letter states. “Thus, we must protect them from harm, especially from invasive species like Asian carp.”
Following President Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate funding for the Great Lake Restoration Initiative from the federal budget, Joyce and the bipartisan group of lawmakers highlighted the importance of state efforts to combat invasive species.
“We respectfully request further information on your understanding of this invasive species and seek clarity on what the MDNR and ODNR are doing to eliminate grass carp from Lake Erie,” the letter states.
Joyce sent the letter with U.S. Reps. Dan Kildee (D-MI), Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH).