H.R. 358 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 358 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 23, 2013 Ms. McCollum (for herself, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Walz, Mr. Latta, Mr. Nolan, Mr. Higgins, Mrs. Bachmann, Mr. Conyers, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Paulsen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To direct the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the United States Geological Survey, to lead a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian Carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strategic Response to Asian Carp Invasion Act. 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The rapid spread of several invasive species of Asian Carp in the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River basins and tributaries threatens ecosystems and billions of dollars of economic activities connected to outdoor recreation in States throughout the Midwest. (2) While Federal efforts have focused on preventing the spread of Asian Carp into the Great Lakes, there is growing recognition of the threat these invasive species pose to other ecosystems in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins. 3. Multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian Carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the United States Geological Survey, shall lead a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian Carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries by providing high-level technical assistance, coordination, best practices, and support to State and local government strategies to slow, and eventually eliminate, the threat posed by Asian Carp. To the maximum extent practicable, the multiagency effort shall apply lessons learned and best practices such as those developed under the Management and Control Plan for Bighead, Black, Grass, and Silver Carps in the United States, November 2007 and the Asian Carp Control Strategic Framework. 4. Report to Congress (a) In general The Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service shall by December 31 of each year submit to the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the coordinated strategies established and progress made toward goals to control and eliminate the Asian Carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries. (b) Contents The Director shall include in each report— (1) observed changes in the range of Asian Carp in such waters during the 2-year period preceding submission of the report; (2) a summary of Federal agency efforts, including cooperative efforts with non-Federal partners, to control the spread of Asian Carp in such waters; (3) research needed that could improve the ability to control such spread; (4) quantitative measures that will be used to document progress in controlling such spread; and (5) cross-cut accounting of Federal and non-Federal expenditures to control such spread.