Congressman John D. Dingell

April 24, 2008

Washington, DC - {Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) gave the following statement in support of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007, which passed the House today by a vote of 395-7.

“Madame SPEAKER, I rise today in support of H.R. 2830, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007.  This bill has many provisions which will improve homeland security, ensure safe navigation and enhance shipping reliability, among other measures.  However, I would particularly like to draw my colleagues’ attention to the ballast water protections in this bill. 

“As a member who hails from the Great Lakes State, I am perhaps more familiar than most with the havoc invasive species can reap on our waterways.  I would note that in its 2005 report, the Great Lakes Collaboration stated that the world’s greatest freshwater lakes are “succumbing to an irreversible ‘invasional meltdown’ that may be more severe than chemical pollution.”  There are currently 185 invasive species in the Great Lakes and another is discovered, on average, every 28 weeks!

“Invasive species cost the federal government about $1.3 billion per year and it is estimated that 42 percent of plants and animals on the Threatened and Endangered Species List are at risk because of alien species.  Aquatic invasives pose a particular threat because of their ability to spread quickly through connected waterways.

“Ballast water, which is used to stabilize freighters, is taken on board before a voyage begins.  It can often contain organisms which become invasive species when released in navigable waters.  For the reasons outlined above, ballast water represents a significant threat to our Great Lakes. 

“To its credit, the National Park Service has already taken steps to prevent ballast water from spreading a deadly fish virus known as VHS in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.  But much more must be done to protect the Great Lakes and other waterways from the exotic species contained in ballast water.

“H.R. 2830 takes these necessary steps.  This legislation for the first time creates strong ballast water management treatment standards in statute and requires that ballast water treatment technology be installed on board beginning next year.  In addition, the bill requires all discharged ballast water to be thoroughly treated and implements tougher standards beginning in 2012, with a goal of zero species in discharged water by 2015.  The manager’s amendment to the bill also includes clarifying provisions to ensure that ballast water management activities are properly reported so that freighters can be held accountable for complying with the law.

“I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Chairman James Oberstar, for his hard work on this important legislation.  We in the Great Lakes region are lucky to have one of our own, the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota, overseeing these matters.  I urge all of my colleagues to support this critically important bill.”