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Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I thank the Chairman for entering into a colloquy with me and for his hard work on this bill. I wanted to quickly discuss the need to add New York to the list of States threatened by the emerald ash borer--an invasive insect that has destroyed over 50 million ash trees in the U.S. to date.
Originally found in Michigan, the emerald ash borer has been steadily
making its way eastward and is now threatening to decimate the 900 million ash trees across New York State. This invasive species threatens a billion dollar timber industry that supplies furniture makers, hardware stores, and the wood for Louisville Slugger baseball bats.
The emerald ash borer larvae burrow through trees, preventing them from receiving essential nutrients and water, eventually causing the tree to die. Thousands of traps have been set in Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties, but more funding will be needed to stop the spread and ensure that New York's forests are not forever altered.
The current committee report lists 12 States which are affected by this invasive pest. I would ask that New York be added to that list during conference.
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