Durbin, Kirk push for federal action on Asian carp

Illinois' two U.S. senators are pressing federal officials to take action against the threat of Asian carp and other invasive species.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk sent a letter Thursday to the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Other Great Lakes senators also signed the letter.

They say urgent action is needed to protect the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basin.

The senators say an Army Corps of Engineers report earlier this year proposed long-term, multibillion-dollar solutions to prevent the spread of invasive species. Those recommendations continue to be debated.

But the senators say officials should take action on other, short- and medium-term actions that could more easily get regional consensus. They say that should happen as soon as possible.