The Great Lakes contain 20% of our planet’s fresh water, and at least 40 million Americans depend on these impressive bodies of water for their water needs. The Great Lakes support many fragile ecosystems and sustain large shipping, fishing and tourism industries that greatly affect the economy and people of its eight surrounding states. Among other things, these industries are now threatened by pollution and invasive species. As with many American lakes, our Great Lakes are experiencing increased algae and weed growth which is often caused by excessive nutrients such as treated sewage and farm run-off.

Discharges from the ballasts of ships entering the Great Lakes contain invasive species such as zebra mussels, spiny water fleas and round gobies. These invaders can cause devastating declines in the diversity of native species. Since the 1990s, environmentalists have regularly sued the EPA to tighten its restrictions on discharges, and to require ballast water to be treated with ultraviolet light or strained through filtration systems.

Proposed Legislation: H.R.1023 - Great Lakes Fishery Research Authorization Act of 2019
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Mike Quigley (IL)