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.
“MACADAMIA TREE HEALTH” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6009-H6010 on Sept. 28, 2016.
The Department is primarily focused on food nutrition, with assistance programs making up 80 percent of its budget. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department implements too many regulations and restrictions and impedes the economy.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
MACADAMIA TREE HEALTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard) for 5 minutes.
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, when most people think of Hawaii, my home State, they immediately think of our beautiful beaches, mountains, vistas, and wonderful people and culture, and they dream about when they might come and visit our home State. This contributes, no doubt, to our tourism industry being the major driver of our economy in Hawaii.
But, along with our beautiful year-round climate comes a great opportunity for our agriculture industry. In fact, most people are not aware that agriculture is the third largest industry in our State, accounting for over $2.9 billion of our annual economy and at least 42,000 jobs, according to our State Department of Agriculture. So, like States all across the country, we are working within government and the private sector to diversify and strengthen our economy, specifically our agriculture sector.
However, one of the greatest threats that we are seeing in Hawaii and across the country to agriculture are invasive species. The macadamia felted coccid is one of more than 4,300 invasive species that threaten our agriculture industry. In Hawaii alone, the invasive species costs our local farmers, landowners, and ag industry millions of dollars every year and puts hundreds of our local small farms and thousands of local workers and the future of one of our most important crops at risk.
Just last month, I had the chance to visit multiple farms on Hawaii island in my district, an island that produces 80 percent of Hawaii's world-renowned macadamia nuts that are shipped and sold all around the world. I heard one story after another from our farmers about how this tiny, invasive insect is destroying farms and threatening livelihoods that really bring many of our communities together. At just one of these more than 620 macadamia growing farms in Hawaii, this insect destroyed 500,000 pounds of macadamia nuts in just 1 year.
Like most things, you can't fix a problem that you don't fully understand. Very little is known about this invasive pest--from its lifecycle to its seasonal pattern to its basic vulnerabilities--that directly impacts our ability to fight back. That is why I have introduced the macadamia tree health initiative today.
My bill would authorize much-needed research and development to combat the macadamia felted coccid and establish an area-wide integrated pest management plan in areas badly affected by this invasive pest. For years, these pest management plans have helped farmers across the country manage invasive pests in a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective way.
My bill would build off this pattern of success by bringing together local stakeholders, researchers, and other key players as we search for comprehensive solutions to keep the macadamia felted coccid and other invasive species from destroying our local farms and this important part of our domestic agriculture industry.
In Hawaii, our macadamia nut industry employs thousands of people and is the economic lifeblood to many of our rural communities. Their jobs, their livelihood, and the vitality of our agriculture industry are at stake if we fail to act.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and empower our Nation's agriculture industry to fight back against these invasive harmful pests.
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