Political Quotes

“My amendment would move $500,000 from the United States Fish and Wildlife general administration account to the National Wildlife Refuge program specifically for the wildlife and habitat management of invasive species. This amendment is identical to an amendment I offered last year that passed this body by a voice vote, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment again this year. Invasive species threaten native plant and animal species and their vital habitats. Currently, invasive species are the most frequently mentioned threat within the National Wildlife Refuge System Threats and Conflicts database and are a growing risk to our ecosystems. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the only agency in the United States Government with the primary responsibility of the conservation of our Nation's fish, wildlife, and plants. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages more than 561 refuges encompassing more than 150 million acres of habitat within the National Wildlife Refuge System. As of 2013, more than 2.4 million acres of the refuge system are impacted by invasive plants, including Lake Hatchineha in my home district in central Florida with approximately 1,715 invasive animal populations residing on the refuge lands. It is important we provide enough funds to enable the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to combat and reduce the harmful impact of invasive species.…”