[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 164 (Wednesday, November 4, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H7638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AREAWIDE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2015
(Ms. GABBARD asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute.)
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, in my home State of Hawaii, invasive
species like the coffee berry borer, fruit flies, macadamia nut felted
coccid, and others, have cost our local farmers and agriculture
industry millions in lost revenue. Across the country, these pests,
along with other invasive insects, diseases, and weeds, cause serious
and harmful damage to our farmlands, agriculture production, food
supply, environment, and public health.
I have introduced the Areawide Integrated Pest Management Act of 2015
to continue supporting long-term and sustainable solutions to fighting
these noxious and invasive species.
In Hawaii, AIPMs have helped increase the number of commercial farms
and have helped local farmers increase their crop diversity, decrease
the use of harmful pesticides, and manage the pests in a sustainable
and cost-effective way.
This legislation will help farmers, ranchers, and land managers all
across the country reduce the impact of these harmful invasive species.
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