[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1503]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               COMBATTING THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, last week, I visited Penn 
State University, which is located in Pennsylvania's Fifth 
Congressional District, for a discussion on the effect that invasive 
species are having on forests across our Commonwealth. I was joined by 
several experts in the field of entomology--from the university and 
from Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
  Among the insects discussed were the spotted lanternfly, the gypsy 
moth, and the emerald ash borer. These experts discussed at length the 
challenges each species presents as well as the ongoing efforts to 
combat the devastating impact and spread.
  As chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and 
Forestry, I know that my State is not alone and that the effects of 
these pests are being felt all across the Nation.
  I applaud the research being done at Penn State University and by 
foresters and entomologists around the Nation. Research and applying 
that science will go a long way in preventing these species from 
spreading further and causing more destruction on our forests.
  I remain hopeful that we can all work together to ensure that our 
forests remain healthy, both ecologically and economically.

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