Washington, DC -- U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-13th-IL) issued the following remarks after U.S. District Judge Robert Dow late yesterday rejected a preliminary injunction requested by Michigan and four other states that would force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to shut down Chicago area locks and waterways to address the migration of Asian carp:

           “Once again, the courts have rejected calls for the hasty and irresponsible closure of Chicago area waterways.  It’s time for officials in other states to stop trying to legislate and litigate lock closure, and start working with environmental managers here in Illinois to protect our Lake using the best scientific means available.  At best, these lawsuits are a distraction.  At worst, they are a drain of precious resources that could be used to fight the carp without destroying Illinois jobs, flooding basements, and raising shipping costs throughout the Midwest.  As the court agreed, shutting down commerce on Illinois waterways would risk serious harm to our economy and do little to stop the carp from threatening our lakes.  

           “Just this week we scored a major legislative victory with passage of our Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act, which will ban the importation of these invasive fish so they can’t threaten other fragile ecosystems.  Let’s follow that model of bipartisan cooperation, work together, and give our environmental managers the tools and resources they need to fight the carp while preserving the benefits of our waterways.”

 # # #