Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 2878.

The Great Lakes aren't just a part of Michigan and the heartland's landscape. They are part of our economy, our identity, and our heritage. They are more than 20 percent of the world's freshwater and must be protected.

They provide drinking water to millions. They are home to a thriving ecosystem for a wide breadth of species. They support countless jobs. Our Great Lakes' fishing economy alone is worth more than $5 billion.

Unfortunately, there are many threats jeopardizing the future of the Great Lakes and the region's way of life, including, as my colleagues just heard described, the highly invasive sea lamprey, one of the most disgusting things I have ever witnessed in my life.

The USGS Great Lakes Science Center is located in my district. It meets the Nation's need for scientific information used to restore, enhance, manage, and protect the freshwater fisheries and habitats of the Great Lakes. The GLSC helps to protect the freshwater fisheries and habitats that are invaluable economic and ecological assets for the entire Great Lakes region.

We know the devastating effects that invasive species, pollution, and extreme weather have had on the Great Lakes, and the research conducted at this lab is essential to mitigating these threats and addressing these issues.

The work of the GLSC and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission has reduced the invasive sea lamprey populations in the Great Lakes by more than 90 percent. Thanks to this program, populations of native fish, including lake trout, whitefish, and walleye, have started to recover and, with them, the economy of the region.

In November 2024, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission announced that lake trout, a popular fish nearly exterminated by sea lampreys and overfishing in the mid-1900s, has fully rebounded in Lake Superior. We must continue to support the GLSC's work with the Fishery Commission because the fight against invasive species is an ongoing battle.

The Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act would reauthorize funding for the Great Lakes Science Center for another 5 years, helping to ensure that they are able to continue conducting the critical research that ensures future generations can enjoy the same beauty, biodiversity, and economic opportunities for our Great Lakes for many years.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this legislation.

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