[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 109 (Thursday, July 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES AWARENESS WEEK

  (Mr. BENISHEK asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, this week marks Aquatic Invasive Species 
Awareness Week.
  This is a good time to consider the threat that invasive species pose 
to all of our districts. Northern Michigan's economy depends on the 
Great Lakes and our beautiful outdoors. Invasive species represent a 
direct threat to our way of life.
  Even before I came to Congress, I was working on invasive species 
issues. I live on an inland lake, and we had a really difficult 
invasive weed get out of control. I have been working for years with my 
neighbors to control it, so I know just how difficult, and important, 
it is to get local buy-in for this fight.
  Volunteers throughout northern Michigan are working right now to 
attack invasive species on the ground. State officials are working to 
educate the public on how we can lessen the chance of spreading these 
invasive species.
  These efforts are in addition to the great work in my district by 
professionals at institutions like Northern Michigan University and the 
Hammond Bay Biological Station.
  I hope this week we will bring further attention to this fight and 
help Congress to focus more resources on this issue.

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