The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“INTRODUCTION OF THE PLANT PROTECTION ACT OF 1999” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E722-E723 on April 21, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE PLANT PROTECTION ACT OF 1999
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HON. CHARLES T. CANADY
of florida
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, April 21, 1999
Mr. CANADY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Plant Protection Act of 1999. Our nation's farmlands, wilderness, and public lands are facing a serious threat from invasive plants and plant pests that can destroy valuable crops and other natural resources. The United States loses thousands of acres and billions of dollars in lost produce and prevention costs each year due to invasion species. In addition, the ecosystems of our parks and wilderness areas are confronting devastating harm from these non-
indigenous plants and pests. The rapid growth of international trade has resulted in a vastly increased volume of goods flowing into the country--goods that may carry prohibited foreign plants or noxious weeds.
These harmful invasive plants and species are causing considerable economic damage to natural resources nationwide. In my home state of Florida, Citrus Canker poses the largest threat to citrus crop production in recent history, necessitating over $160 million in state and federal government funding to curb the disease. In the South, cotton producers and the federal government have spent nearly $500 million to prevent damage to crops due to Bollweevil pests. Chicago and New York have suffered significant losses to the Asian longhorned beetle, which has destroyed thousands of trees in city neighborhoods. Noxious weeds have attacked crops in the Carolinas and in the rangelands of Oregon, Idaho and Washington. In California and Florida, invasive species have halted high-value agricultural exports from disease infested areas. The effect of invasive plants and species throughout the country is profound.
Exacerbating this problem are the outdated, fragmented, and confusing quarantine statutes that govern interdiction of prohibited plant and plant pests. Many of these laws date back to the early part of this century and have not been updated in decades. Our agricultural sector and public lands need a modern, effective statutory authority that will protect our crops from the introduction of harmful pests.
The Plant Protection Act of 1999 will build a solid foundation for the future by streamlining and modernizing plant interdiction laws. This legislation consolidates eleven existing statutes into one comprehensive law and eliminates outdated and ambiguous provisions. It also establishes effective deterrents against trafficking of prohibited species by increasing the monetary penalties for smuggling; providing the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a comprehensive set of investigatory tools; ensuring transparency for U.S. trading partners; and recognizing the benefits of new technologies such as biological control organisms.
The Plant Protection Act, originally introduced in the 105th Congress, will enhance the ability of our nation to protect its lands and crops by giving the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service the investigatory and enforcement tools it needs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as 45 agricultural organizations from throughout the country support the Plant Protection Act. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this vital and important legislation.
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