[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E85]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION

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                           HON. PATSY T. MINK

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 19, 1999

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Plant 
Genetic Conservation Appropriations Act of 2000 that provides $1.5 
million for a genetic plant conservation project that collects and 
preserves genetic material from our Nation's endangered plants.
  While the Fish and Wildlife Service continues to make strides in 
battling the war against further extinction of endangered species, we 
must do more. As of 1997 when I originally introduced this legislation, 
there were 513 plants listed as Endangered and 101 as threatened under 
the Endangered Species Act. Today, there are 567 plants listed as 
endangered and 135 as threatened. The need to supplement the Fish and 
Wildlife Services work is critical.
  I believe a crucial part of the solution to save our endangered 
species is the genetic plant conservation project, which can help save 
and catalog genetic material for later propagation. As genetic 
technology develops, we will have saved the essential materials 
necessary to restore plant populations.
  The Plant Genetic Conservation Appropriations Act of 2000 requests 
$1.5 million for activities such as rare plant monitoring and sampling, 
seed bank upgrade and curation, propagation of endangered plant 
collections, expanded greenhouse capacity, nursery construction, 
cryogenic storage research, and in-vitro storage expansion.
  In my home state of Hawaii, the endangered plant population sadly 
comprises 46 percent of the total U.S. plants listed as endangered. And 
our endangered plant list continues to grow. We cannot afford to wait 
any longer. By allocating the resources and allowing scientists to 
collect the genetic samples now, we can ensure our endangered plants 
will survive.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support the Plant Genetic 
Conservation Appropriations Act 2000. This necessary bill can lead us 
to preserving plants that many of our ecosystems cannot afford to lose.

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