[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 46 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE NATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES ACT OF 1996

                                 ______


                            HON. JIM SAXTON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 29, 1996

  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, Mr. LaTourette intends to introduce a bill 
that will curtail the spread of non-native aquatic species in our 
Nation's waters. As you know, I am from New Jersey and this issue is of 
particular importance to our State. Over 130 miles of coastline and 
with delicate estuary and river ecosystems, non-native aquatic species 
could destroy our environment. This is already happening in Mr. 
LaTourette's district on Ohio. New Jersey shares coast line with States 
that are already suffering the horrors of these forms of biological 
pollution.
  In addition, these non-native species, such as the zebra mussel, 
tapeworms effecting trout in the Mississippi River, and the green clam 
which harms steamer clam production in the Gulf of Maine, cost us 
millions of dollars in lost revenue and increased costs to businesses.
  This bill establishes national guidelines for the removal and 
cleansing of shipping ballast water to stop the accidental introduction 
of non-native aquatic species into ecosystems. This is important to my 
State which has extremely active ports in the Newark area as well as on 
the Delaware River, and since, by weight, 98 percent of all U.S. 
international commerce occurs by shipping, this is a problem about 
which every coastal and Great Lakes Member should be concerned.
  This bill takes a pro-active approach to environmental legislation in 
its efforts to address potential environmental disasters before they 
begin. Pro-active solutions give us reasoned, scientifically sound, 
less expensive, more effective, and more efficient solutions than 
reactive measures. I urge your support for this important bill.

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