Sean Patrick Maloney: “In January 1997, when the Asian Longhorned Beetle was first spotted in the United States right in the heart of Brooklyn…”

“In January 1997, when the Asian Longhorned Beetle was first spotted in the United States right in the heart of Brooklyn, I called on the Department of Agriculture to do everything in its power to eradicate this tree-killing beetle before it devastated the Northeast urban forestry network. The strong efforts from the Agriculture Department, in close coordination with State and city agencies, slowed the beetles spread significantly, but sadly, New York has lost more than 5,000 trees in less than 6 years from beetle infestation. In recent years, I have held numerous community forums on the issue to raise awareness about the beetle's devastating effects and to discuss strategies to prevent the spread of beetle infestation. I have also worked closely with my colleagues in the New York delegation to secure adequate funding to stop the beetle before it spreads deeply throughout the Northeast region and into the rest of the country. My aim has always been the protection of our farmlands, our trees and our forests through the containment and complete eradication of the Asian Longhorned Beetle. This year's Agriculture Budget provides crucial resources toward that end, with $35 million appropriated to fight the Asian Longhorned Beetle, citrus canker, and the plum pox virus. This is a significant increase in funding for a very significant problem. Unchecked, costs from the spread of the Asian Longhorned Beetle could rise as high as $41 billion nationwide.”