Lynn C. Woolsey: “I stand here because sudden oak death was first found in Marin County in my district in 1995. Since then, I have been…”

“I stand here because sudden oak death was first found in Marin County in my district in 1995. Since then, I have been working to control and contain this devastating disease, and I have been working with the gentleman from California (Mr. Thompson) as well because it is happening in our contiguous districts. It is good that we are here today to vote on this bipartisan bill, and it is something that I have been working on to get control over. But I am saddened that it has taken the spread of this disease to receive national interest. Slowly but surely, as sudden oak death has spread through other communities, the Nation has come to understand the devastation that it causes and its need to be stopped. Sudden oak death is catching national attention as it has appeared for the first time in nurseries in southern California and nurseries in Oregon, and there is some serious concern that SOD has even spread to the southeastern part of the country. Nurseries in California are struggling with the quarantines that have been put in place on their plants in Canada and the State of Kentucky. In fact, quarantines of nurseries in Washington and Oregon are being considered at this very time. But more tragic than that is what actually happens to the beautiful trees in an area that is affected by SOD and the resulting fire risks. It just brings tears to your eyes when you see these groups of trees disappearing.”