Michigan House committee urges Illinois to resume Brandon Road project to block Asian carp

The House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism voted to report House Resolution 77, a nonbinding resolution urging Illinois to resume work on the Brandon Road interbasin project to prevent the spread of invasive Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Representative Tom Van Werkom, who presented the resolution, said the project is a “critical pinch point” to stop Asian carp and noted Michigan has invested state funds toward the effort. “We realized that this was critical because we need this lock, this project, the stop of Asian carp to protect a $7,000,000,000 fishing and tourism industry, which equates to about 75,000 jobs here in the state of Michigan,” Representative Van Werkom said.

The committee’s action follows testimony and questions about funding and federal involvement. Members asked whether federal funds designated for project phases have been released and whether Illinois’ stated concerns about federal funding were justified. Representative Weiss asked, “Have they — has the federal government released the funds to do this project?” Van Werkom replied that funds have been allocated in phases and that “there has been no indication from the administration that these monies are in question or would be halted.”

Supporters of the resolution filed written statements; the clerk read names of organizations that had filed support without wishing to speak, including the Michigan Boating Industries Association, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy.

On the motion to report House Resolution 77 with recommendation, Representative Vanderwall moved the motion; the clerk recorded 10 yeas, 4 nays and 2 passes, and the motion prevailed. The resolution directs that copies be transmitted to the President of the United States, the governor of Michigan and the governor of Illinois.

The resolution is nonbinding; committee members and the presenter repeatedly described it as a political and public-communication step intended to urge Illinois and the federal government to proceed with the project’s phases. Representative Myers-Phillips cautioned members that Army Corps of Engineers projects are phased and federal funds are often released in stages. Representative Saint Germain said the delay “has not been announced as a cut” by the administration and suggested the pause may be political.

Committee documents and testimony described Michigan’s prior appropriations for the project. Van Werkom said the 2018 Michigan Legislature provided $8,000,000 and that Michigan’s total state commitment has grown to about $73,000,000. The presenter characterized the Brandon Road site as a critical barrier point where construction is needed to prevent carp passage.

What happens next: The committee reported the resolution with recommendation to the full House. Because the measure is a nonbinding resolution, it does not mandate action but signals the legislature’s position and requests communication to Illinois’ governor and federal officials.