[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             NATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS WEEK, 2016

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                           HON. DAN BENISHEK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 25, 2016

  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of National Invasive 
Species Awareness Week, 2016, from February 21 to February 27.
   Invasive species cause widespread damage across the United States. 
Billions of dollars of damage are caused by animals such as nutria in 
the South, sea lampreys in the Great Lakes, Asian carp in the 
Mississippi Basin, and quagga mussels in the west. We must work 
together to raise awareness of the economic and environmental damage 
that invasive species are wreaking on our lands and waters.
   In Congress, I along with Congressman Mike Thompson of California, 
are co-chairs of the Congressional Invasive Species Caucus. This large, 
bipartisan group of Members of Congress from across the country seeks 
to bring attention to the danger invasive species pose. We often work 
together on policies that will reduce the impact of these species.
   This week, the Congressional Invasive Species Caucus hosted an 
informational session in honor of National Invasive Species Awareness 
Week that saw over one dozen groups, ranging from federal agencies to 
non-government organizations, presenting on the dangers of invasive 
species and ongoing efforts to control their populations.
   On behalf of all residents of Northern Michigan and the United 
States, I wish to honor the many citizens and organizations who work 
each day to stop the threat of invasive species to our country. I, 
along with my colleagues in the House, will continue to work to stop 
invasive species and bring awareness of this important issue to the 
American public.

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