Is GOP Congressman Bill Sali (ID-01) pro-invasive species? Then why was he one of only ten congressmen to oppose the Natural Resource Protection Cooperative Agreement Act that passed the House overwhelmingly 390-10 Monday?
According to Ralph Maughan's Wildlife News, "This will give the Park Service more authority to combat alien species that are invading the national parks." The Nature Conservancy says:
Invasive species, when introduced into a non-native ecosystem, can cause harm to the environment and have devastating effects on the economy and human health. Each year, invasive species such as the zebra mussel and purple loosestrife cost the United States upwards of $120 billion in control and response costs. If passed, this bill would strengthen conservation projects around the country by authorizing the Park Service to work with neighboring landowners and partners to proactively address invasive species that threaten the wildlife, diversity, and visitors’ enjoyment of National Parks.
The State of Idaho spends millions of dollars trying to suppress noxious weeds and other invasive species with programs such as the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign. Gov. Otter proposed, according to AG Weekly, "spending $10 million this year to fight invasive species." Most Idahoans likely welcome this step by the federal government to aid in that fight.
What was Congressman Sali thinking?

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