H-1395.1          _______________________________________________

                             HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4017

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Thompson, Fuhrman, Stevens, G. Fisher, Elliot, Sheldon, Cairnes, B. Thomas, Beeksma, Schoesler and Horn

Read first time 02/03/95.  Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Ecology.

Requesting Congress to control or eradicate nonnative noxious weeds.

     TO THE HONORABLE BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, Nonnative noxious weeds pose a substantial and significant threat to the economic welfare of the citizens of the state of Washington in that noxious weeds are detrimental or destructive of crops, fruit, trees, shrubs, valuable plants, forage, other cultivation, and agricultural plants or produce; and

     WHEREAS, In recognition of the substantial threat to economic welfare, the state of Washington has mandated the control and eradication of nonnative noxious weeds on all privately held and state-held lands, which has up to this time been effectively managed by the state of Washington; and

     WHEREAS, Nonnative noxious weeds continue to proliferate and burgeon on lands that are the property of the United States of America, or under the control of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, The failure of the federal government of the United States to control or eradicate nonnative noxious weeds poses a substantial and significant threat to the economic welfare of the citizens of the state of Washington in that these weeds are detrimental or destructive of crops, fruits, trees, shrubs, valuable plants, forage, other cultivation, and agricultural plants or produce; and

     WHEREAS, This nonfeasance and malfeasance of the federal government, committed by and through the principal instrumentality of the United States Forest Service, is in direct violation of federal law and regulation; namely, the Carlson-Foley Act and Federal Noxious Weed Act; and

     WHEREAS, The previously mentioned unrestrained propagation and  exponential reproduction of nonnative noxious weeds is an exigent economic and agricultural peril; and

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress recognize the enormous threat to the economic and agricultural welfare of the state of Washington, caused by the failure of the federal government to control or eradicate the agricultural and economic menacing nonnative noxious weeds, within the borders of the state of Washington and upon property of the United States of America or property under control of the United States, and as such, immediately direct all federal instrumentalities and agencies managing or controlling this property to comply with all relevant laws and regulations regarding control or eradication of nonnative noxious weeds in the state of Washington; and

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

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