[Congressional Bills 103th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 4804 Introduced in House (IH)] 103d CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4804 To authorize appropriations for construction of a research facility in Broward County, Florida, to be used in connection with efforts to control Melaleuca and other exotic plant species that threaten native ecosystems in the State of Florida. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 20, 1994 Mr. Shaw (for himself, Mr. Deutsch, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mrs. Fowler, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Young of Florida, Mr. Canady, Mr. Goss, Mr. Bacchus of Florida, Mrs. Meek, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Johnston of Florida, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Lewis of Florida, Mr. McCollum, Mr. Hutto, Mr. Peterson of Florida, Mr. Stearns, Mr. Mica, Mr. Miller of Florida, and Mrs. Thurman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To authorize appropriations for construction of a research facility in Broward County, Florida, to be used in connection with efforts to control Melaleuca and other exotic plant species that threaten native ecosystems in the State of Florida. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia) is a noxious weed which is changing the fragile ecosystem in and around the Everglades National Park to the detriment of South Florida's water supply. (2) Although Melaleuca was originally introduced into the State of Florida from Australia in the early 1900s to help dry up the Everglades, it now threatens to permanently replace and eliminate Florida's natural plant communities and the animals that live in them. (3) The State of Florida loses an incredible 52 acres a day to Melaleuca. (4) According to experts most acquainted with the Melaleuca problem, the best long-range hope for control and suppression of serious, widespread pest plants like Melaleuca is an approach called ``classical biocontrol''. (5) The major factor that is impeding progress to find a suitable insect to control Melaleuca is the lack of quarantine space. The Aquatic Plant Management Laboratory presently shares a quarantine facility at Gainesville, Florida, with the Florida Department of Agriculture and the University of Florida at Gainesville. However, the Gainesville facility is far from the main infestations of Melaleuca, and facility space specifically to quarantine insects to control Melaleuca is limited. (6) The University of Florida has donated land on its campus in Davie, Florida, where the quarantine facility will be located. (7) Although this facility will be primarily used to battle Melaleuca, it will also be used to quarantine insects for other exotic plants. SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. Section 108(c) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 4816) is amended by striking ``$1,000,000'' and inserting ``$4,000,000''. <all>