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Klobuchar Calls for Federal Aid to Fight Emerald Ash Borer in Minnesota

Klobuchar joins ten Senators to call for aid against invasive forest insects and diseases

October 13, 2009

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and ten Senators sent a letter today to Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Feinstein and Ranking Member Alexander requesting $2 million to fight the spread of invasive insects and diseases.  Earlier this year, Klobuchar, who serves on the Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry, worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to secure funding to help address the negative impact of the Emerald Ash Borer.

“We must act to stop these destructive pests and diseases from spreading across Minnesota,” said Klobuchar. “These insects and diseases are infesting communities across the state.  I will continue to work for federal aid to help stop the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer and other harmful invasive species. ”

In May, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture issued a risk assessment indicating that 40 percent of Minnesota is at risk from Emerald Ash Borer.  Minnesota is home to over 900 million ash trees, the second highest concentration in the nation. Over the past seven years, Emerald Ash Borer insects have killed tens of millions of trees in the Midwest and Canada.

In the letter, the Senators expressed the need for federal intervention and aid in supporting these harmed communities.  They requested funding for the Pest and Disease Management Revolving Loan Fund that would allow communities to purchase capital equipment and replace trees to help manage infestations.  

The full text of the letter is below:


October 9, 2009


The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
Chairman
Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510    The Honorable Lamar Alexander
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment,       and Related Agencies Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510


Dear Chairman Feinstein and Ranking Member Alexander:

As you begin to conference the FY10 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that you provide $2 million in funding for the Pest and Disease Management Revolving Loan Fund, which was included in the Senate-passed bill.
Our states have each been adversely impacted or are imminently threatened by invasive forest insects and diseases.  These invasive pests are a blight on local communities struggling to prevent or contain infestations. The costs associated with tree removal and replacement can be extremely burdensome and are often borne by municipal governments.
Many cities and municipalities lack the resources needed to quarantine, treat, and remove infested and infected trees, and are struggling to identify sources of capital during these uncertain economic times.  The Pest and Disease Revolving Loan Fund will provide local governments with low-interest financing to help defray the costs of invasive species management activities.  These loans will allow communities to purchase capital equipment and replacement trees in order to manage infestations on municipal government land within quarantine areas. 

Invasive pests and diseases have caused significant damage to our nation’s tree populations and threaten to harm major portions of the United States.  If we are serious about containing these invasive threats, we must help our communities on the frontlines.
We appreciate your consideration of this important request and look forward to working with you to ensure that states receive adequate funding to address the pressing problem of invasive pests and diseases.

Sincerely,

Senator Charles E. Schumer
Senator Dick Durbin   
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senator Richard G. Lugar
Senator Carl Levin
Senator Ron Wyden
Senator John F. Kerry
Senator Roland W. Burris
Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand
Senator Ben Cardin
Senator Debbie Stabenow


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