[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7247]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        INVASIVE SPECIES SUMMIT

  (Ms. STEFANIK asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. STEFANIK. Mr. Speaker, my district is home to many ecological 
wonders, from the mighty Adirondacks to the Saint Lawrence River. The 
environment is truly our lifeblood in the North Country. Sadly, 
invasive species threaten the health and beauty of these natural 
ecosystems.
  Given our unique position as both the gateway to the Great Lakes and 
as the center of international shipping trade, our State has the 
unfortunate distinction of being a principal point of entry for many 
invasive species.
  Today I am introducing two pieces of bipartisan legislation to help 
combat and raise awareness about the threat that invasive species pose 
to our ecosystems. Nationwide, an estimated 50,000 nonnative invasive 
animal and plant species have been introduced, resulting in more than 
$100 billion in economic losses annually.
  Every State and U.S. territory has at least some form of invasive 
species. Therefore, I hope my colleagues will cosponsor these vital 
bills so we may prevent the spread and introduction of these harmful 
invasive species.

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