[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 161 (Friday, November 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2283-E2284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE BROWN TREE SNAKE CONTROL AND ERADICATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 7, 2003

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, roughly a half-century ago my home island 
of Guam was invaded by an unwelcome alien pest. Believed to have 
arrived on Guam as a passive stowaway in a military cargo ship shortly 
after World War II, the brown tree snake has kept our island's native 
wild life under siege ever since and has emerged to become the single 
greatest threat to Guam's natural environment.
  Today, I am introducing legislation along with my colleagues from 
Hawaii, Mr. Case and Mr. Abercrombie, to combat the brown tree snake by 
increasing authorized funding levels for research, control and 
prevention of the spread of this species with the ultimate goal of 
eradication in Guam. In doing so, the legislation aims to improve the 
coordination among Federal agencies and other institutions in dealing 
with the problems brought about by the brown tree snake.
  The Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 
1990, which established a Federal program to prevent the introduction 
and spread of aquatic nuisance species, included an authorization for 
programmatic efforts to combat the brown tree snake as well. Since then 
the Federal Government has gradually increased efforts to prevent the 
brown tree snake from departing Guam and to reduce the population of 
the brown tree snake in certain targeted areas in Guam. Our legislation 
would enhance these efforts by improving the coordination and 
consistency of actions undertaken by Federal agencies and by providing 
an adequate authorized funding schedule to achieve the goal of 
eradication. Our legislation clarifies the responsibility for funding 
brown tree snake programs and places that responsibility in the 
appropriate Federal agencies. In the past the Department of the 
Interior's Office of Insular Affairs has had to contribute funds meant 
for territorial technical assistance to the brown tree snake program in 
order to make up for shortfalls in other Federal agencies' budgets. 
While we appreciate the Office of Insular Affair's efforts in the past, 
it is preferable to secure funding from those with direct 
responsibility and expertise for these issues.
  Since 1993, Congress has attempted to address the brown tree snake 
problem, but I

[[Page E2284]]

would contend, by indirect and inconsistent means. Currently, Federal 
funding to fight the brown tree snake has remained stagnant over the 
past decade and has been realized, in addition to the contributions 
from the Office of Insular Affairs, through the efforts of a Senate 
Appropriations $1 million annual earmark in the Department of Defense 
Operations and Maintenance account for the Defense Health Services. 
These funds have been the basis for the progress made to date, but 
these appropriations funds are not specifically authorized, which has 
caused difficulty in securing the appropriation each year. In addition, 
as an earmark, these efforts have been misinterpreted by interest 
groups opposed to such earmarks and has at times been characterized as 
``pork'' spending.
  If we do not adequately address these funding shortfalls, significant 
brown tree snake containment efforts may fail resulting in the spread 
of a very aggressive invasive species to other areas of the United 
States. The brown tree snake has caused severe environmental damage on 
Guam, and our experience has been that once introduced, this species is 
extremely difficult to eradicate. The environmental cost in protecting 
other species in other areas that may become endangered by this alien 
predator is enormous, thus making the prevention of the spread of the 
brown tree snake an economic issue. This is a clear example of a 
situation where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
  This bill is also notable for its emphasis on control and 
eradication. Guam has had the unfortunate experience of having the 
brown tree snake threaten the extinction of our own indigenous species 
of birds.
  I look forward to moving this bill through the legislative process. I 
thank my colleagues from Hawaii, Mr. Case and Mr. Abercrombie, for 
their diligent work in crafting this legislation with me. I also wish 
to commend stakeholders in Guam and Hawaii, including the Government of 
Guam's Department of Agriculture, for their valuable input. I urge my 
colleagues to support the Brown Tree Snake Control and Eradication Act.

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