Our National Debt Crisis

Floor Speech

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Mr. LANGWORTHY. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for yielding.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4368, the agricultural appropriations bill, which includes funding to combat the spotted lanternfly invasion in the Northeastern United States of America.

This provision invests $19 million to protect our farmers, safeguard our crops, and preserve the future of our agricultural communities from the devastating effects of this pest. The spotted lanternfly, native of Asia, has proven to be an aggressive and destructive pest that threatens our specialty crops, including grapes and apples, in areas like western New York and the Southern Tier of New York that I represent.

This invasive species also puts thousands of agricultural jobs at risk. We owe it to our farmers to ensure that their hard work, their dedication, their blood, their sweat, their tears is not in vain due to a destructive pest.

By investing in research and development of creative solutions, we can find effective strategies to combat the spotted lanternfly and save our agricultural economy from a potential disaster.

I am proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in addressing this pest, and encourage the rest of my colleagues to support the fiscal year 2023 agricultural appropriations bill to help protect our farms, our crops, and our agricultural heritage.

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