President Obama Signs Nolan’s Invasive Species and Harbor Protection Amendments into Law as Part of Massive Water Resources Bill

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Eighth District Congressman Rick Nolan joined President Obama at the White House this morning for the official signing of the massive Water Resources Development and Reform Act (WRRDA) Act, which includes, wide-ranging provisions affecting harbors, navigation, construction, environmental protection, and flood abatement throughout the nation’s waterways, including several sponsored by Nolan.

The measure includes Nolan amendments to (1) close the St. Anthony Lock & Dam in Minneapolis to prevent the spread of invasive Asian carp into northern Minnesota fishing waters, (2) expand the definition of “invasive species” to include animal as well as plant life, and (3) stop raids on the Harbor Trust Fund that have resulted in a ten-year dredging backlog costing an estimated $3 billion a year in lost jobs and commerce from Duluth through the Great Lakes chain.

As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and its Subcommittee on Water Resources, Nolan included the three amendments in the original House version of the WRRDA bill. He went on to serve on the House-Senate conference committee that crafted the final version passed by both Houses of Congress.  

“The impact on jobs and the economy in Minnesota’s Eighth District – and on our entire state – can’t be overstated,” Nolan said.

“Make no mistake. Without the amendment to close the St. Anthony Lock and Dam in Minneapolis, invasive carp would essentially be free to move through the upper Mississippi watershed, into the Crow Wing, Gull, Pine, and Rum Rivers – and into the Crow Wing, White Fish and Mille Lacs lakes, and hundreds of other important lakes – including Leech, Cass, and Winnie. The impact on Minnesota’s multi-billion dollar sport fishing and tourism industry and the thousands of jobs it supports could have been devastating.”

“Moreover, by adding animals like the zebra mussel and invasive carp to the federal definition of invasive species, which heretofore included only plant life, we provide the Army Corps of Engineers with the resources and authority for more research and abatement of some 180 invasive and non-native species that threaten the Great Lakes, the Mississippi watershed, and our economy throughout the Upper Midwest.”

“And by stopping raids on the Harbor Trust Fund for purposes other than critical maintenance of our harbors and waterways – we take a giant step toward eliminating a 10-year dredging backlog that is estimated to be costing us $3 billion a year in lost jobs and commerce because Duluth Harbor and cargo ships are now forced to move iron ore, coal, grain, timber, and manufactured goods up the Great Lakes Chain at only 80 percent of capacity. We got this done for Minnesota and the nation, and I’m proud of it.”