IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 170 

Expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives to work to 

combat the nationwide problem of invasive species threatening native 

ecosystems. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 2, 2017 

Ms. STEFANIK (for herself and Mr. THOMPSON of California) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Agriculture, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by 

the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the commitment of the House of Representatives 

to work to combat the nationwide problem of invasive 

species threatening native ecosystems. 

Whereas approximately 50,000 nonnative invasive animal and 

plant species have been introduced to the United States, 

resulting in economic costs estimated at more than 

$100,000,000,000 annually; 

Whereas ports in the northeast were the center of international shipping trade and immigration during our Nation’s founding and the earliest known record of invasive 

species in the United States dates back to 1794; 


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•HRES 170 IH 

Whereas all 50 States and the United States territories have 

at least some form of invasive plants and animals; 

Whereas invasive species pose a serious threat to native animal and plant communities and may result in extinctions 

of native species; 

Whereas invasive species cause significant disruptions to natural ecosystems as native and nonnative species compete 

for limited resources, reduce biodiversity, and alter terrestrial or aquatic habitats; 

Whereas invasive species can cause damage that spans an 

enormous range of effects, including: power outages; loss 

of farmland property value; contamination of grain; 

spread of human and other diseases; increased operating 

costs; loss of irrigation water; collapse of buildings; competition with native plants; loss of sport, game, or endangered species; and ecosystem disturbance; 

Whereas there exists three major pathways for habitat invasion, including: transportation corridors such as seaways, 

railroads and highways; intentionally imported nonnative 

pets, landscaping plants, aquaculture; and nonnative organisms deliberately released for propagation in the wild; 

Whereas there is an urgent need for funding to prevent and 

preempt the introduction and spread of invasive species 

from key points of entry, and a focus on stopping them 

at their sources of entry; and 

Whereas numerous Federal agencies, operating under a 

patchwork of laws, regulations, policies, and programs, 

are tasked with monitoring and controlling the spread of 

invasive species yet gaps in authorities or shortages of 

personnel have hampered efforts to limit the entrance of 

and damage from invasive species: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 170 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives commits 

2 to working constructively to create a comprehensive solu3 tion to the threat of invasive species throughout the 

4 United States by controlling and eradicating established 

5 invasive species populations, and preventing the further 

6 introduction, intentional or unintentionally, of nonnative 

7 species into native ecosystems. 

Æ 


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