This week, I introduced an amendment to H.R. 2 that would protect our nation’s waterways, including the Great Lakes, by limiting the spread of invasive species. I am pleased to say that my amendment was accepted and passed the House on Wednesday.

My amendment, which I previously introduced as a bipartisan bill with Congressman Mark Pocan (D-Madison), will help keep the Great Lakes healthy by restricting the access of invasive species, like Asian carp. This amendment will amend the Federal Power Act to allow the Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Interior to consider the threats posed by invasive species before mandating a new fish passageway be built through a dam.

Fish passageways serve an important purpose of preserving and enhancing the populations of desirable, native fish by allowing them a way to travel around dams. However, invasive species use these same passageways to invade rivers and lakes and devastate native species and their habitats. I grew up near the Milwaukee River in Southeastern Wisconsin and know the importance of fish having the ability to move freely to spawn. Yet, removing dams and creating fish passageways is not always the best option for the overall health of the environment. Invasive species can have a devastating effect on the environment, public health and the economy. The damage they can cause only gets worse over time, which is why it is becoming increasingly important that we address the issue of invasive species on a case-by-case basis.

The state of Wisconsin is currently experiencing this problem. The Fish and Wildlife Service has ordered the installation of a fish passageway at the Prairie du Sac dam. Asian carp have been found at the base of this dam. There are four species of invasive Asian carp in America, the bighead carp, black carp, grass carp and silver carp. In 2009, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that a 92-pound bighead carp was caught in Illinois. Installing a fish passageway in Prairie du Sac would allow the Asian carp to migrate upstream to the Wisconsin River, Lake Wisconsin and eventually the Great Lakes. This would wreak havoc on native species and threaten the Great Lakes $7 billion fishing industry and the 75,000 jobs that depend on it.

I was glad that House Democratic leadership was willing to work with me in a bipartisan manner to help protect the environment and our precious natural resources.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is a new trade agreement, negotiated by President Trump, that updates trade policies between our three countries and creates a fairer environment for our workers and businesses. Last December, the USMCA passed Congress with my support and was signed into law by president Trump on January 29, 2020. This past Wednesday, July 1, the USMCA was implemented and officially replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

The USMCA is the 21st century solution that will promote free trade, economic growth and continued cooperation between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Wisconsin's world-famous dairy industry, and our entire agriculture sector, will benefit from the USMCA trade agreement. Under the USMCA, U.S. dairy farmers will be able to export the equivalent of 3.6% of Canada’s dairy market, more than tripling the existing level of approximately 1%. Additionally, the 231,000 Wisconsin jobs and nearly $11 billion worth of Wisconsin exports supported by trade with Canada and Mexico will be provided a better playing field. The USMCA also repairs glaring holes in NAFTA that have, for too long, allowed China to penetrate North American markets.

I applaud President Trump for his leadership on the USMCA and Congress for acting to deliver a win for the American workers and our economy. For more information on how the USMCA will affect Wisconsin, please click here.

244 years ago, our founding fathers declared the United States an independent nation and our country was born. I hope you and your family have a happy, fun and safe Independence Day!