Angie Craig: “I rise today with Senator Daschle to introduce the Harmful Non-native Weed Control Act of 2000--to provide assistance to…”

“I rise today with Senator Daschle to introduce the Harmful Non-native Weed Control Act of 2000--to provide assistance to eligible weed management entities to control or eradicate harmful, non-native weeds on public and private land. I have stood before Congress for the past three years pushing legislation and speaking on the issue of noxious weeds. I know some members tire of hearing me bring up this issue, but I have seen the destruction caused when non-native weeds are not treated and are left to overtake native species. Non-native weeds threaten fully two-thirds of all endangered species and are now considered by some experts to be the second most important threat to bio-diversity. In some areas, spotted knapweed grows so thick that big game like deer will move out of the area to find edible plants. Noxious weeds also increase soil erosion, and prevent recreationists from accessing land that is infested with poisonous plants.”