Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa Dear Colleague Letter – Help Communities Eradicate the Emerald Ash Borer: “Dear Colleague, As you know the emerald ash borer, which was first identified in Michigan in 2002, is destroying trees in more than 20 states. This invasive species is not only a threat to our environment and urban shade, but a budget issue as it can cost $1,000 to remove a single tree. Because the emerald ash borer has been identified in your state, I would like to invite you to join me in asking the Agriculture and Interior Appropriations Subcommittees to increase funding to help the US Department of Agriculture find a biological control for the invasive beetle, and increase funds at the US Forestry Service to help communities deal with this pest. Please see below the letter requesting an additional $37 million for USDA’s office of Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) to research and determine a biological control. This letter also requests an increase of $15 million for the Forest Health Management Cooperative Land program to help communities address emerald ash borer infestations, and an additional $5 million for the Urban and Community Forestry program to increase grants available to plant new trees and provide diversified urban shade.”