Hawaiʻi representatives Ed Case and Jill Tokuda are battling serious threats to the state’s agriculture, environment and economy by reintroducing the Hawai‘i Invasive Species Protection Act.
The act would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Service, in cooperation with other federal departments and the State of Hawai‘i, to perform visual, x-ray and, if deemed appropriate, canine inspections on all persons, baggage, cargo and any other articles destined for direct movement to the State of Hawai‘i.
“Invasive species pose an especially grave threat to Hawaiʻi”s ecosystems, natural resources and agricultural communities, in part due to Hawaii’s unique geography,” Case said. “Hawai‘i is the most isolated island chain and one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world. However, tragically, in large part due to invasive species, Hawai‘i has become the endangered species and extinction capital of the world.”…