MARCH 12, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank my distinguished colleagues, Representative Chris John and Representative Tauzin for introducing H.R. 342, the "Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act," and for working so diligently on behalf of the people and states who have been ravaged by the West Nile virus.

This legislation hits very close to home for me. My homestate of Michigan has been hit hard by this deadly epidemic. To date, we have had 554 confirmed cases of West Nile and 50 deaths. Currently, a staggering 4,071 people in the United States have been found to be infected with the West Nile virus. Unfortunately, we have also had 274 deaths as a result of West Nile infection.

H.R. 342 seeks to complement the work that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is already doing to fight mosquito-borne diseases. This legislation will provide an additional incentive for States and localities to plan and better coordinate mosquito control programs. Unfortunately, many localities have not had the resources or capabilities to conduct assessments and prepare plans to comprehensively develop effective mosquito control programs. The additional federal dollars authorized in H.R. 342 will work to assist states and localities with their immediate needs to combat the West Nile virus.

In addition to working with the CDC, the "Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act" requires the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to conduct and support research into methods to control the population of insects and vermin that transmit dangerous diseases to humans.