Rep. Palsrok offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 320.

            A resolution to urge the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to designate Asian carp as injurious species under the federal Lacey Act.

            Whereas, Live Asian carp have been widely imported from their native ranges of China and other Asian countries to the United States for beneficial uses such as water quality improvement, removal of aquatic plants and animals, or to improve fishery production, primarily at aquaculture facilities; and

            Whereas, However, Asian carp negatively affect native fish and wildlife, water quality, and public health and safety when they escape from confinement. Asian carp compete with native fish and wildlife, including rare and endangered species, for food and degrade water quality by disturbing sediments. In addition, silver carp, a type of Asian carp, cause substantial impacts to the health and welfare of people using infested waterways. Silver carp can weigh up to 70 pounds and jump up to 10 feet out of the water when disturbed by moving watercraft. Boaters have suffered cuts, black eyes, broken bones, back injuries, and concussions from leaping silver carp; and

            Whereas, Two species of Asian carp have already escaped from confinement at aquaculture facilities in the lower Mississippi River during periods of high precipitation and flooding. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) have established self-sustaining populations and migrated through the upper Mississippi and Illinois river systems to within less than 100 miles of the Great Lakes. Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), another Asian carp species of concern, are also used in aquaculture facilities in the Mississippi River basin and could escape under similar circumstances; and

            Whereas, Populations of Asian carp once introduced and established in a water body like the Great Lakes are nearly impossible to control and eradicate for technical and financial reasons. Twenty-two rivers flowing into the Great Lakes would provide suitable spawning habitat for Asian carp. Once established in the Great Lakes, Asian carp could become a dominant species in the lakes, threatening recreational boaters and the $4 billion Great Lakes commercial and recreational fishery; and

            Whereas, In September 2006, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to designate silver carp and largescale silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys harmandi) as injurious wildlife species under the Lacey Act. This action would prohibit their importation and interstate transport, with limited exceptions. It would help prevent further purposeful or accidental introductions and subsequent establishment of new silver carp and largescale silver carp populations in the United States; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we support the United States Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to list the silver carp and largescale silver carp as injurious species under the federal Lacey Act; and be it further

            Resolved, That we urge the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to also add bighead carp and black carp to the list of injurious species under the Lacey Act; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.