Congress passes Asian carp import prevention bill

Congress has passed a bill designed to prevent importation of Asian carp, which was co-sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Asian carp have been jumping and chewing their way up the Mississippi River system. Officials are desperately trying to keep them out of the Great Lakes.

Importation of the silver carp was prohibited earlier; now President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill that prohibits import of the bighead.

Andy Buchsbaum, with the National Wildlife Federation says it's an important step, but more is needed.

"We need means to control them now that they're established," Buchsbaum said. "And then to try to stop them from moving further, which means separating the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes basin using physical measures."

So far, researchers do not think there are viable populations in the Great Lakes.