[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 7, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1648-E1649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARIO DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 7, 2009

  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I submit the 
following information.
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R. 2997
  Account: Agricultural Research Service
  Name of Requesting Entity: University of Florida/IFAS
  Address of Requesting Entity: 700 Experiment Station Rd, Lake Alfred, 
FL, 33850
  Description of Request: I have secured $1,300,000 for the Citrus 
Canker and Greening Research. This funding will be used for 
Continuation of vital citrus Canker, citrus Greening/Huanglongbing 
(HLB) and Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) research to improve technologies 
for treatment and detection, methods of movement and containment, and 
means to control and eliminate these devastating citrus diseases and 
disease vector. Currently, citrus Canker disease, the spread of the ACP 
and citrus Greening/HLB are the two most serious diseases and vector 
facing the U.S. citrus industry. Both diseases and the vector have been 
declared endemic in the state of Florida and pose serious threats to 
California, Texas and to the viability of the U.S. citrus industry. 
Research supported through federal funding in addition to state and 
grower funds is critical to ensuring that the citrus industry remains a 
viable part of America's economy. In Florida alone, commercial citrus 
is a $9 billion dollar a year industry that supports almost 90,000 
jobs. California and Texas combined have over a $3.2 billion economic 
impact with over 26,000 jobs in their respective states. Due to the 
severity of just these two diseases and vector, the importance of 
continuing critical research unabated is crucial. Canker is caused by a 
bacterium that creates lesions on the leaves, stems, and fruit of 
citrus trees, including oranges and grapefruit. While not harmful to 
humans, Canker significantly affects the health of trees, causing 
leaves and fruit to drop prematurely. Wind and rain serve as the vector 
of Canker. Citrus greening/HLB is a bacterial disease which is spread 
by the Asian citrus psyllid. Although it presents no threat to humans 
or animals, trees diagnosed with citrus greening/HLB have greatly 
reduced production and often die within a few years. Recently, research 
for these diseases and vector

[[Page E1649]]

has been done on a state by state basis. More than 100 research 
projects are currently underway in an attempt to find scientific 
answers to greening/HLB, the ACP and Canker. A new federal ARS research 
initiative could ultimately provide long-term solutions to these 
invasive pests and diseases. This new approach has become necessary to 
help protect U.S. citrus production and mitigate the impact of these 
exotic pest and diseases. Scientists are confident that intensive and 
sustained research can solve the Greening/HLB, ACP and Canker puzzles 
once and for all.
  Requesting Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25)
  Bill Number: H.R. 2997
  Account: CSREES
  Name of Requesting Entity: University of Miami
  Address of Requesting Entity: 142 Collegiate Loop, Tallahassee, FL, 
32306
  Description of Request: I have secured $2,494,000 for the Southeast 
Climate Consortium. This funding will be used to characterize the 
impacts of ENSO-related climate variability (a global coupled ocean-
atmosphere phenomenon producing the most prominent known source of 
inter-annual variability in weather and climate around the world) on 
agricultural commodities and specialty crops. Explore alternative 
management responses to realistic climate scenarios and quantify 
expected outcomes. Establish communications process that can rapidly 
disseminate climate information and decision support tools regularly 
while gleaning user feedback on the usefulness and relevance of the 
provided analyses via agricultural stakeholders and state extension 
services. Study the agricultural impact of water managers' decisions in 
response to climate variability. Weather and climate significantly 
affect agriculture; year-to-year climate variability (e.g., flooding, 
droughts) can dramatically impact agricultural productivity. Climate 
forecast information for a relatively small regional group of 
agricultural decision-makers has proven useful. By expanding efforts 
into Georgia and Alabama via new collaborations with universities 
there, we enhance our understanding and predictive abilities as we 
tailor information for a wider range of Southeast agricultural decision 
makers.

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