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HR 77

A resolution urging Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to resume construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project to prevent the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 8 co-sponsors

Michigan urges Illinois to resume the Brandon Road Project to block Asian carp from invading the Great Lakes ecosystem and threatening the region's fishing and tourism industries.

adopted
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Bill Summary · HR 77

Legislative bill overview

HR 77 is a Michigan House resolution urging Illinois Governor JB Pritzker to resume construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, a federally-funded infrastructure initiative designed to prevent Asian carp from migrating into the Great Lakes through Illinois waterways. The project involves installing barriers and other containment measures at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois.

Why is this important

Asian carp pose a severe ecological and economic threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem, potentially disrupting native fish populations and the region's $7+ billion fishing and tourism industries. The Brandon Road Project is considered the most critical federal prevention measure, and construction delays have created extended vulnerability windows during which carp could establish populations in the Great Lakes.

Potential points of contention

  • Federal vs. state authority: The resolution asks one state's governor to act on a federally-authorized project, raising questions about whether Michigan should be pressuring Illinois or if federal authorities should enforce timelines
  • Project costs and delays: The Brandon Road Project has experienced significant budget increases and timeline extensions; the resolution doesn't address underlying causes of delays or funding constraints
  • Interstate water politics: The resolution reflects Michigan's anxiety about environmental threats originating from another state's waterways, which could escalate broader Great Lakes governance disputes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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