[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 75 (Tuesday, June 13, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S5771]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FLORIDA CITRUS-CANKER QUARANTINE

  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr President, I rise to call on the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture to reconsider its recent decision to ban 
Florida's citrus industry from shipping fruit to other citrus-producing 
States, as this decision could adversely affect a major segment of my 
State's economy.
  Specifically, the Government ban lacks adequate scientific backing 
and could even harm Florida's ability to trade with other citrus-
producing countries.
  This industry has long played an important role in my State's 
economy, and the Government has often been supportive and helpful, 
including after the past two hurricane seasons that were devastating to 
the industry and spread canker extensively, making eradication no 
longer possible.
  While the Department of Agriculture has helped the industry recover 
from the storms and with combating canker in the past, I am hopeful it 
will do so again in a way that does not cause more harm than good.

                          ____________________