Kinnikinnick Chapter Of The Idaho Native Plant Society

To:     President G.W. Bush

   Ann Veneman, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

   U.S. Senator Larry Craig

   U.S. Senator Mike Crapo

   U.S. Representative Butch Otter   

Dear Sirs,

The Kinnikinnick Chapter of the Idaho Native Plant Society is deeply concerned

about the proposed transfer of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

from the USDA to the new Homeland Security unit.

We believe that such a transfer will further dilute the effort to protect our forests and

other native, wildland ecosystems from exotic (non-native) disease pathogens, insects

and noxious weeds.

APHIS as it now exists, at best, provides minimal protection of wildland resources.

The agency lacks the needed expertise in pests of native plants to provide adequate

protection, and most of its emphasis is on agricultural crops. If APHIS is transferred to

Homeland Security, we fear that its mission will be further diluted. This dilution

appears to be already occurring in response to the Public Health Security and

Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 signed into law on June 12. The

listed biological agents and toxins are limited to those affecting agricultural crops only.

Instead of transferring the agency, we strongly recommend that its resources be

increased substantially and a much greater emphasis be placed on protection of native

plants and native wildlands ecosystems. We appreciate the opportunity to

communicate our concerns to you and hope that you will seriously consider them.

Respectfully yours,

Eileen Atkisson, President

Cc:  Betty Richardson, Alan Blinken