The American Chesnut

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the efforts in Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District to reintroduce the American chestnut tree.

Before the 1900s, the American chestnut was the dominant tree in the eastern United States. In fact, in my home State of Pennsylvania, it comprised roughly 25 percent of all hardwoods. Blight struck these trees beginning in 1904, and by 1950, the American chestnut was nearly wiped out of our forests.

Mr. Speaker, efforts over the past several years have focused on reintroducing this hardwood, the American chestnut, by making it more resilient to blight. I am proud to say that reintroduction efforts are taking place at several sites in Pennsylvania's Fifth Congressional District in Centre County, Clinton County, and Elk County.

This past week, the Pennsylvania State University's chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation held its annual meeting, highlighting the work of researchers, along with the contributions of volunteers, to the reintroduction of the American chestnut.

As chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, I commend those advocates for their dedication, their research, their efforts to the reintroduction of this species; and I look forward to lending my support for bringing the American chestnut back.

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