On the recordSeptember 24, 2024
I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding. Mr. Chair, I thank my friend, Representative LaLota, for filing this amendment which seeks to address the serious threat to forests in the American northeast. The amendment does require the Forest Service to conduct a study on the causes and effects of the infestation of pine beetles in the northeastern region of the U.S. and offer solutions to the pressing problem. The southern pine beetle is an invasive species that has been expanding into northeastern forests in recent years. As a southerner, I wish all the southern pine beetles would leave the South, but I don't wish them on my friends in the North. It is an invasive species that poses a serious threat to the health of pine forests in the North. Concerning tree mortality has been documented in recent years in pitch pine stands in several northeastern States, including New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The expansion of this invasive species into northern forests is concerning and warrants our attention. This is a good amendment that addresses a very real threat to forests in the northeast. Examining this threat further and developing solutions to prevent, treat, and detect insect infestations is an important endeavor. I, again, applaud Representative LaLota for his leadership in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
