[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E722-E723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


            INTRODUCTION OF THE PLANT PROTECTION ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES T. CANADY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 1999

  Mr. CANADY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Plant Protection Act of 1999. Our nation's farmlands, wilderness, and 
public lands are facing a serious threat from invasive plants and plant 
pests that can destroy valuable crops and other natural resources. The 
United States loses thousands of

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acres and billions of dollars in lost produce and prevention costs each 
year due to invasion species. In addition, the ecosystems of our parks 
and wilderness areas are confronting devastating harm from these non-
indigenous plants and pests. The rapid growth of international trade 
has resulted in a vastly increased volume of goods flowing into the 
country--goods that may carry prohibited foreign plants or noxious 
weeds.
  These harmful invasive plants and species are causing considerable 
economic damage to natural resources nationwide. In my home state of 
Florida, Citrus Canker poses the largest threat to citrus crop 
production in recent history, necessitating over $160 million in state 
and federal government funding to curb the disease. In the South, 
cotton producers and the federal government have spent nearly $500 
million to prevent damage to crops due to Bollweevil pests. Chicago and 
New York have suffered significant losses to the Asian longhorned 
beetle, which has destroyed thousands of trees in city neighborhoods. 
Noxious weeds have attacked crops in the Carolinas and in the 
rangelands of Oregon, Idaho and Washington. In California and Florida, 
invasive species have halted high-value agricultural exports from 
disease infested areas. The effect of invasive plants and species 
throughout the country is profound.
  Exacerbating this problem are the outdated, fragmented, and confusing 
quarantine statutes that govern interdiction of prohibited plant and 
plant pests. Many of these laws date back to the early part of this 
century and have not been updated in decades. Our agricultural sector 
and public lands need a modern, effective statutory authority that will 
protect our crops from the introduction of harmful pests.
  The Plant Protection Act of 1999 will build a solid foundation for 
the future by streamlining and modernizing plant interdiction laws. 
This legislation consolidates eleven existing statutes into one 
comprehensive law and eliminates outdated and ambiguous provisions. It 
also establishes effective deterrents against trafficking of prohibited 
species by increasing the monetary penalties for smuggling; providing 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a comprehensive set of 
investigatory tools; ensuring transparency for U.S. trading partners; 
and recognizing the benefits of new technologies such as biological 
control organisms.
  The Plant Protection Act, originally introduced in the 105th 
Congress, will enhance the ability of our nation to protect its lands 
and crops by giving the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service the 
investigatory and enforcement tools it needs. The U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, as well as 45 agricultural organizations from throughout 
the country support the Plant Protection Act. I look forward to working 
with my colleagues to pass this vital and important legislation.

                          ____________________