Anniversary of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council

Floor Speech

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Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I rise today to recognize a significant anniversary for the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council. When they meet in a few short weeks, the council will celebrate 75 years of service to Wyoming ecosystems and communities. While the council is partially funded by the State of Wyoming, the council's success lies in dedication of staff, volunteers, seasonal employees, and partners who dedicate themselves to eradicating invasive species and noxious weeds.

Invasive species threaten the delicate balance in nearly every ecosystem. Around the world, invasive species cause billions of dollars in damage to the environment and to economies each year. They threaten watersheds, forests, and grasslands. They crowd out important native species, increase the risk of catastrophic wildfires, introduce disease, and fundamentally undermine the natural cycle of life. Dedicated experts work each day to stem the tide of new introductions.

Each of the 23 counties in Wyoming has a Weed and Pest District, run by staff and an elected board. The districts set policy, monitor existing infestations, work with the public to develop a comprehensive list of risks, and act quickly when new species are detected. Often, Weed and Pest supervisors wear many hats; depending on the hour, they are grant writers, weed sprayers, staff managers, and policy experts.

Wyoming Weed and Pest coordinator, Slade Franklin, detailed the important work of the council when I invited him to testify before the Environment and Public Works Committee earlier this year. In his testimony, Slade shared the coordination that is required to ensure invasive species are not able to gain an advantage in States where lands are managed by multiple jurisdictions. Slade knows that invasive species do not respect fence lines, and during his decade-long leadership of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council, he has forged important relationships with local, State, and Federal agencies. His leadership has been integral in many of the State's successes.

It is without hesitation that I say Wyoming's forests and plains would look much different today if the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council had not unified in 1973. While the State has struggled with cheatgrass and Russian olive, they have been hugely successful in preventing new infestations of invasive mussels and limiting spread of other grasses, like ventenata. Each municipal water manager, rancher, hiker, forester, hunter, and miner owes a debt of gratitude for the good work of the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council.

Whether they work from horseback, ATV, the air, or a desk, I rise today to honor the dedicated professionals to work to keep our ecosystems healthy. My wife, Bobbi, joins me in thanking them and wishing the Wyoming Weed and Pest Council another 75 years of success.

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