[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H520-H523]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SALT CEDAR AND RUSSIAN OLIVE CONTROL ASSESSMENT AND DEMONSTRATION ACT

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2707) to direct the Secretaries of the Interior and 
Agriculture, acting through the U.S. Forest Service, to carry out a 
demonstration program to assess potential water savings through control 
of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive on forests and public lands 
administered by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest 
Service, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2707

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Salt Cedar and Russian Olive 
     Control Assessment and Demonstration Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretaries.--The term ``Secretaries'' means the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) Western united states.--The term ``Western United 
     States'' refers to the States defined by the Act of June 17, 
     1902 (commonly known as the 1902 Reclamation Act; 43 U.S.C. 
     371 et seq.), which includes Arizona, California, Colorado, 
     Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nevada, 
     New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

     SEC. 3. ASSESSMENT OF SALT CEDAR AND RUSSIAN OLIVE 
                   INFESTATION IN WESTERN UNITED STATES.

       (a) Assessment.--Not later than one year after the date on 
     which funds are first made available to carry out this 
     section, the Secretaries shall complete an assessment of the 
     extent of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive invasion in the 
     Western United States.
       (b) Content.--The assessment shall include the following:
       (1) To the extent practicable, documentation of the 
     quantity of water lost due to the infestation.
       (2) Documentation of the quantity of water saved due to 
     various control methods, including the portion of saved water 
     that returns to surface water or groundwater supplies and at 
     what rates.
       (3) Determination of the optimum control method for the 
     various land types and land uses.
       (4) Determination of what conditions indicate the need to 
     remove such growth and the optimal methods for disposal or 
     use of such growth.
       (5) Determination of methods to prevent the regrowth and 
     reintroduction of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive and to 
     reestablish native species.
       (c) Report on Assessment.--
       (1) Preparation and content.--The Secretaries shall prepare 
     a report containing the results of the assessment. The report 
     shall identify long-term management and funding strategies 
     that could be implemented by Federal, State, Tribal, and 
     private land managers and owners on all land management types 
     to address the invasion of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive. The 
     report shall also identify deficiencies or areas for further 
     study and where actual field demonstrations would be useful 
     in the control effort.
       (2) Submission.--The Secretaries shall submit the report to 
     the Committee on Resources and the Committee on Agriculture 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
       (d) Support for Identification of Long-Term Management and 
     Funding Strategies.--The Secretaries may make grants to 
     institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations 
     (or both) with an established background and expertise in the 
     public policy issues associated with the control of Salt 
     Cedar and Russian Olive to obtain technical experience, 
     support, and recommendations related to the identification of 
     the long-term management and funding strategies required to 
     be included in the report under subsection (c)(1). Each grant 
     awarded under this subsection may not be less than $250,000.

     SEC. 4. DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM FOR CONTROL OF SALT CEDAR AND 
                   RUSSIAN OLIVE IN WESTERN STATES.

       (a) Demonstration Projects.--
       (1) Projects required.--Based on the results of the 
     assessment and report in section 3, the Secretaries shall 
     initiate a program of not fewer than three demonstration 
     projects in the Western United States designed to address the 
     deficiencies and areas for further study to address the 
     invasion of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive, including the test 
     of additional control methods, identified by the report.
       (2) Implementation.--The Secretaries may enter into an 
     agreement with a State in the Western United States to carry 
     out a demonstration project. If the Secretaries select a 
     demonstration project for implementation on National Forest 
     System lands, the Secretary of Agriculture shall be 
     responsible for implementation of the project.
       (b) Elements of Projects.--
       (1) Design and scale.--Each demonstration project shall be 
     designed with integrated methods and adaptive management 
     strategies and carried out over time frames and spatial 
     scales large enough to accomplish the goals laid out in the 
     report.
       (2) Scientific review.--Before being carried out, the 
     methods and strategies proposed for each demonstration 
     project shall be subject to review by scientific experts, 
     including non-Federal experts, selected by the Secretaries. 
     The Secretaries may use existing scientific review processes 
     to the extent they comply with this requirement.
       (c) Project Costs and Cost Sharing.--The total cost of each 
     demonstration project may not exceed $7,000,000, including 
     the costs of planning, design, implementation, revegetation, 
     maintenance, and monitoring. In the case of a demonstration 
     project conducted on lands under the jurisdiction of the 
     Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of Agriculture, 
     the Secretaries may accept, but not require, funds or in-kind 
     contributions, including State agency provided services. The 
     Federal share of the costs of any activity on private lands 
     funded under the project shall be no more than 75 percent of 
     the total cost of the activity.
       (d) Reporting Requirement.--During the period in which the 
     demonstration projects are carried out, the Secretaries shall 
     submit to the congressional committees specified in section 
     3(c)(2) an annual report describing--
       (1) the demonstration projects;
       (2) the progress made in carrying out the projects during 
     the period covered by the report; and
       (3) the costs of the projects under subsection (c).
       (e) Monitoring.--Demonstration projects shall include the 
     following:
       (1) Documentation of the quantity of water saved due to 
     various control methods, including the portion of water saved 
     that returns to surface water or groundwater supplies and at 
     what rates.
       (2) Optimal revegetative states to prevent the regrowth and 
     reintroduction of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive and to 
     reestablish native species.
       (f) Cooperation.--The Secretaries shall use the expertise 
     of their various agencies, as well as other Federal agencies, 
     institutions of higher education, State and local governments 
     and political subdivisions thereof, including soil and water 
     conservation districts, and Indian tribes, which are actively 
     conducting assessments on or implementing Salt Cedar and 
     Russian Olive control activities.

     SEC. 5. RELATION TO OTHER AUTHORITY.

       Nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect, or 
     otherwise bias, the use by the Secretaries of other statutory 
     or administrative authorities to plan or conduct Salt Cedar 
     or Russian Olive control and eradication that is not planned 
     or conducted under this Act.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Assessment.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretaries $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 to conduct 
     the assessment required by section 3.
       (b) Grants.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretaries $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2005 to award as 
     grants under section 3(d).
       (c) Demonstration Projects.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Secretaries $18,000,000 for each of the 
     fiscal years 2005 through 2009 to carry out the program of 
     demonstration projects under section 4.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2707, the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control 
Demonstration Act, provides for the Secretaries of the Interior and 
Agriculture to carry out a demonstration program

[[Page H521]]

assessing potential water savings through control of Salt Cedar and 
Russian Olive on forests and public lands administered by the 
Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service.
  Salt Cedar and Russian Olive are both invasive species that adversely 
impact the water supply, increases soil salinity, lowers the potential 
water that the soil can hold, and increases fire frequency. Last summer 
in Albuquerque, New Mexico, several hundred acres along the Rio Grande 
River burned, forcing about 600 people to be evacuated from their 
homes. This fire burned many native cottonwood and willow trees. 
However, one of the culprits being blamed for the escalation of the 
fire is the large amount of underbrush that had collected, which was 
mostly Salt Cedar. Without this buildup of Salt Cedar, the fire 
probably would not have burned as extensively or with the intensity 
that it did.
  Regardless of what side of the aisle one is on, most can agree that 
controlling Salt Cedar and Russian Olive is important for water 
salvage, riparian restoration, salinity control, habitat restoration, 
and wildlife management.
  Salt Cedar is widely distributed and is extensive along riparian 
areas in the Western United States, particularly along the Colorado, 
Rio Grande, the Pecos and Gila Rivers. Controlling and hopefully one 
day completely eradicating Salt Cedar and Russian Olive is important. 
As we eradicate Salt Cedar, we increase the flow of water in the 
streams, springs, and rivers, and restore native plants that are less 
water-consuming and improve habitat.
  Because of the widespread nature of Salt Cedar and Russian Olive, 
there have been many projects to clear these trees and then to estimate 
how much water was saved. These increased stream flows and water 
restoration estimates vary widely. The high ranges from 6 to 9 acrefeet 
saved per year, down to a low of between zero to 1.5 acrefeet per year, 
per acre cleared, the last estimate based on a study done by USGS on 
the Pecos River in New Mexico.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2707 will begin to address these problems by 
providing sound science and, in turn, developing and expanding on 
innovative approaches to control these harmful weeds.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
legislation, H.R. 2707. Salt Cedar and Russian Olive trees have caused 
severe ecological damage in the Southwest. These invasive species crowd 
out native species while crossing public and private lands, spreading 
indiscriminately. This bill will take the first step to enhance our 
capability to control these species. Under this proposed legislation, 
land managers will quantify the scope of the Salt Cedar and Russian 
Olive invasion and then develop demonstration projects to eradicate the 
invasives.
  Invasive species control should become a national priority. I believe 
this bill is only a tip of the iceberg. We must find a solution not 
only to Salt Cedar and Russian Olive invasions, but also to the spread 
of other invasive plants and animals.
  I want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. 
Pearce), for his management of this legislation, and commend him also 
for sponsoring this legislation. I also thank the majority for 
incorporating amendments to the text at our request. I would also like 
to recognize the members of the Committee on Resources and members on 
this side of the aisle who also have been cosponsors of this bill: the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva), the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Cardoza), the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Mark Udall), and the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Tom Udall) as sponsors of this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Neugebauer).
  Mr. NEUGEBAUER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2707, 
the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act.
  In Texas, New Mexico, and other Western States prone to drought, Salt 
Cedar trees are absorbing millions of gallons of water that our 
communities and farms can put to better use. Landowners and local State 
agencies have been working to slow the spread of Salt Cedars and 
eradicating them from the banks of rivers and streams, but this effort 
has been an uphill battle. Their vast root systems and abundant seeds 
carried by wind and water make getting rid of them very challenging. 
Unless we eliminate them, Salt Cedars will continue soaking up valuable 
and scarce water that west Texas communities need.
  The demonstration projects and research authorized by this 
legislation will help find more effective means to speed the 
eradication of Salt Cedars. Better strategies for fighting the spread 
of Salt Cedars will benefit communities across State lines. Much water 
used in west Texas originates in other States, and Salt Cedars along 
those rivers are reducing the supply available to all of us.
  Salt Cedar eradication projects are showing results. A project in the 
Pecos River in Texas has saved 12 billion gallons of water, nearly 
enough water to serve my hometown of Lubbock for 1 year, and additional 
eradication efforts are under way. In order to effectively eliminate 
Salt Cedar, these projects must cover many miles of rivers and stream 
banks. Taking out large areas of Salt Cedar at a time reduces the 
spread of new plants.
  A mature Salt Cedar can use up to 200 gallons of water per day, much 
more water than native vegetation that could be replanted to stabilize 
those stream banks. Salt Cedars add to the salinity of water, which 
kills other plants and displaces wildlife.
  While we still need rain in west Texas to alleviate the drought and 
replenish water supplies, we also need to take proactive steps to save 
the water resources we already have. Large-scale eradication of Salt 
Cedars is one of the means to conserve water. Enacting this legislation 
to further demonstration projects and additional research will help 
other States, our State and other communities implement the best 
strategies to deal with this Salt Cedar infestation sucking down our 
water supplies.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2707. I thank the 
gentleman from New Mexico for his sponsorship and leadership. We have 
heard about how important it is to the areas of Texas and New Mexico. 
It is also important to my district, one of the most important 
agricultural areas in the United States, the Imperial Valley of 
California.
  We use water from the Colorado River, and we have heard how invasive 
this Salt Cedar can be. In fact, the Imperial County Agriculture 
Commissioners Office and the Brawley, California Research Station have 
been studying for a long time now how to control Salt Cedar. John 
Kershaw, the president of the Imperial Valley Conservation Research 
Center Committee, and Stephen Birdsall, Imperial County Agricultural 
Commissioner, have briefed me on the great strides that have been made 
to controlling Salt Cedar in our area. This bill will greatly help with 
those efforts.
  We have heard how much water these species use. Salt Cedar is like a 
giant straw: One tree can suck up to 200 gallons of water a day.

                              {time}  1430

  It can cause an increase in fire and flooding, a decrease in water 
quantity and quality and an increase in soil salinity. It can replace 
native species, degrade wildlife habitat, and limit the human use of 
riverbanks.
  Salt Cedar was originally introduced in order to stabilize stream 
banks, but it has turned into a nightmare for our farming communities. 
We have spent millions of dollars trying to eradicate this pest. 
Million of gallons of water

[[Page H522]]

have been wasted. We have become increasingly concerned about water 
conservation and the best use of our natural resources in this Nation. 
Those of us who rely on the Colorado River see that Salt Cedar 
squanders this precious, precious water.
  Removing it would allow native plants which have been squeezed out by 
the noxious tree to come back to our community. Removing the tree would 
also encourage wildlife populations to increase, including several 
species, such as the Willow Flycatcher, that are declining or are 
threatened or endangered. The Flycatcher is an endangered bird that 
eats insects that thrive on native plants in my district, which the 
Salt Cedar has displaced.
  I commend the Departments of Interior and Agriculture for their 
dedication to controlling or eradicating invasive species such as Salt 
Cedar. We must continue this important work. We can protect our most 
precious natural resources, water, wildlife, and soil, by eradicating 
this invasive species.
  Mr. Speaker, clearly these species are serious problems across all 
the United States, but particularly in the Southwest. The challenges 
they present to our communities are enormous, but we cannot let them 
ruin our natural native resources. We can and we must take back the 
land and water for our communities.
  I thank the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) for his leadership 
in this struggle.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), our most senior 
ranking member on the Committee on Agriculture, and certainly commend 
him for his expertise on agriculture-related issues.
  Mr. STENHOLM. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from American Samoa for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2707. I am an 
original cosponsor of this legislation, and I worked hard to push it 
through the House Committee on Agriculture; and I also want to commend 
highly my colleague from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) for his diligent work 
on the Committee on Resources to make this issue a top priority and to 
shepherd this bill to the floor of the House of Representatives today. 
Again, I thank my friend from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for his 
work on bringing it to the floor today.
  My friend from New Mexico and I share similar constituencies, and we 
maintain the same concerns that we must act now to ensure the 
availability of fresh water in the future. This legislation is not 
about simply eliminating Salt Cedar and Russian Olive from watersheds. 
It is about controlling these plants to increase our supplies of fresh 
water in the Western United States. America's citizens should not have 
to compete with invasive pests for an already limited supply of 
drinking water.
  I have represented west Texas now for 25 years, and there is 
virtually nothing of greater daily concern out there than the 
availability of fresh water. Like much of the West, the 17th 
Congressional District of Texas has certainly experienced the 
consequences of drought. Stream banks and lakebeds continued to recede 
during the dry periods, while Salt Cedar proliferates in those areas.
  The devastating results can be seen all over west Texas as dense 
thickets of Salt Cedar have overtaken native plant species in the 
Colorado River basin. In fact, the Colorado River Municipal Water 
District estimated that Salt Cedar consumed more water in 2002 than the 
district's largest municipal customer, a city with more than 100,000 
people. The combined capacity of the district's three reservoirs fell 
below 25 percent during 2002, and it became readily apparent that Salt 
Cedar was robbing municipalities of this precious resource.
  The water district has worked closely with many Federal, State, and 
local entities to begin brush control projects within the Colorado 
River watershed. They have implemented Salt Cedar control projects with 
reasonable success on both public and private lands. Further, private 
landowners have successfully partnered with the National Resources 
Conservation Service to employ brush control on their properties. In 
several cases, dormant streams and creeks have again begun to flow 
where those control programs were implemented.
  I am convinced that this bill moves towards real solutions to the 
Salt Cedar and Russian Olive invasion. It lays out the framework for 
private and public land managers to cooperate with the U.S. Department 
of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, local soil and water 
conservation districts and State agencies to work together on the 
demonstration programs authorized in this bill. After all, it will take 
integrated control and management practices to significantly deter the 
further spread of these non-native species.
  I have worked tirelessly during my time in Congress to address the 
scarce water situation in west Texas, and I can attest that brush 
control efforts have produced the most lasting results in the 17th 
district. Most of our Nation faces an urgency to develop long-term 
plans to ensure that communities will have an adequate supply of 
drinking water. I truly believe this legislation will help public and 
private land managers across the Western United States take a giant 
step toward implementing more efficient and effective brush control 
projects that will result in better water conservation.
  I close by saying, unlike a barrel of oil, it is tough to put a price 
on clean, fresh water.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I gladly yield 5 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall), one of the 
cosponsors of this legislation.
  (Mr. UDALL of New Mexico asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 2707, I 
am extremely pleased that this bill is on the floor of the House today.
  I would like to thank my colleague from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) for 
introducing this important legislation and for his leadership on this 
issue. I would also like to thank the gentleman from American Samoa for 
his hard work and his leadership in bringing this to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, those of us from the West are all too familiar with the 
water troubles that our communities are facing. Many of us are trying 
to find commonsense approaches to sustainable water management. This 
legislation is an important step in that direction.
  H.R. 2707 authorizes funds for demonstration projects on the Pecos 
and Rio Grande rivers to find the most efficient way to eliminate the 
invasive Salt Cedar species. The legislation authorizes up to $7 
million per trial for the Army Corps of Engineers to begin examining 
the most effective methods to remove the Salt Cedar. The invasive Salt 
Cedar species is very damaging to water efficiency, has no natural 
enemies such as insects and diseases, and has a ravenous thirst. A 
large tree can soak up as much as 200 gallons of water per day.
  Removing the Salt Cedar alone will not be a panacea for our water 
troubles, but will certainly go a long way towards improving our water 
efficiency.
  Because of the importance of this task, support of efforts to 
eradicate non-native plants in New Mexico are widely supported by a 
diverse number of groups. The Alliance for the Rio Grande Heritage and 
the Northern New Mexico Sierra Club have supported efforts by the New 
Mexico legislature to eliminate Salt Cedar and other phreatophytes 
along the State's riverbanks.
  Farmers and conservationists agree that everything possible must be 
done to remove Salt Cedars and other invasive species. Addressing a 
problem of this magnitude will require significant resources; and it 
is, therefore, imperative that we develop the most effective 
approaches. Passing this legislation will allow the Federal Government 
to make a significant contribution to helping communities throughout 
the Nation eradicate the Salt Cedar.
  Mr. Speaker, the water problems facing the West are complex and 
politically charged. However, we all stand here today committed to 
taking an important step in the fight against water shortages by 
passing this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  I thank, once again, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).

[[Page H523]]

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  As the assembled body can hear, this bipartisan bill has great 
importance, and especially throughout the West. I thank the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Stenholm), the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega), and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for their 
hard work on behalf of this bill.
  I have areas, Mr. Speaker, in my district which typically get around 
16 inches of rainfall a year. In the last several years, we have gotten 
less than 6 inches in many of those areas; in some areas, as little as 
2 inches in the last 12 months.
  Mr. Speaker, our entire agricultural production system is at risk. We 
need to support our farming and ranching. We need to understand that 
one of the most critical things we can provide for ourselves and our 
Nation is a secure supply of food.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill should begin to deliver more water to the 
agriculture community of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.
  Mr. Speaker, my district has 200 inches of rainwater a year, and I 
would be more than glad to share some of my water with my colleagues. 
Unfortunately, they would have to go many miles to get these 200 inches 
of water that we would be more than glad to share with our friends here 
in the continental United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the spirit of bipartisanship has been 
demonstrated this afternoon as we debate and discuss this issue; and, 
again, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I accept the gentleman's offer of the rain 
that he has and shares so willingly, and we will address that in the 
next bill.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, as Utah copes with its most severe drought 
in recent times, protecting our native species from invasive plants is 
vital to both agriculture and the environment. It is important to those 
of us in the West to take those steps necessary to stop non-native 
species from consuming our precious water resources.
  Throughout the development of the West, we have maintained a healthy 
and vibrant balance between our economic and residential needs and the 
needs of our native plants and animals. The tamarisk threatens that 
balance.
  For this reason, I support H.R. 2707--The Salt Cedar and Russian 
Olive Control Demonstration Act. This bill has particular meaning to me 
and to my constituents, because of the efforts it promotes to eradicate 
tamarisk.
  Overall, experts estimate the economic impact of invasive species in 
the U.S. to be over $100 billion annually. Scientists have calculated 
that tamarisk plants soak up an estimated 2-4 million acre-feet of 
water per year in the West. A single plant can absorb up to 300 gallons 
of water a day through a taproot that can reach down 50 feet into the 
water table. Tamarisk, originally introduced by settlers trying to 
control stream bank erosion, is inedible to most animals and is 
notoriously difficult to kill. Even when it's burned, it generates new 
shoots.
  This plant's effects are particularly devastating in our state and in 
our neighboring states, and so I have worked on the Science Committee 
to create new opportunities to combat tamarisk. This bill is an 
important step towards eradicating the threat that tamarisk poses in 
Utah and other Western states, and I will continue to support it and 
other legislation which furthers our battle to remove this threat.
  Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 
2707, the Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration Act, 
introduced by my colleague from New Mexico Steve Pearce.
  The Russian Olive and Salt Cedar are invasive species that are 
soaking up our water. Water is the lifeblood of the American West and 
foundation of our economy. The Salt Cedar can consume up to 200 gallons 
of water per day during growing season. This is more than the average 
Albuquerque household consumes in a day.
  Additionally, these invasive species are highly flammable and put our 
communities at risk. In 2003 two major fires, fueled by these invasive 
species, broke out in the heart of Albuquerque. These fires left 16,000 
people temporarily without electrical power, threatened 600 homes and 
led to the evacuation of about 1,000 people.
  This legislation begins an important Federal initiative to reduce the 
negative effect of these invasive species.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Leach). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2707, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________