WHEREAS, hundreds of aquatic invasive species have already caused damage and are continuing to cause damage to bodies of water across the nation; and

WHEREAS, new and damaging aquatic invasive species are being introduced in waterways throughout the nation at the rate of over one per year; and

WHEREAS, aquatic invasive species can impose significant economic costs on the nation’s communities insofar as they clog municipal water intakes, degrade discharge pipes, valves and other water infrastructure, damage irrigation facilities, weaken river banks and impair wetlands; and

WHEREAS, the harm to the ecological integrity and economic sustainability of waters that have been impaired or damaged by aquatic invasive species is well-documented in countless state, regional, federal and international studies and reports; and

WHEREAS, some of the nation’s communities have taken steps aimed at prohibiting and penalizing the release of aquatic invasive species in the waters of their own municipal boundaries, but because such species transcend political boundaries, local governments generally do not have adequate authority, jurisdiction or resources to effectively control and prevent their introduction or spread; and

WHEREAS, the nation’s waters and the communities located on shorelines of the nation’s waters would substantially benefit from a comprehensive, well-funded federal approach to help stop the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species; and

WHEREAS, although there has been strong support in recent years from within and outside of the Congress for federal aquatic invasive species legislation, and in particular for the proposed “National Aquatic Invasive Species Act”, such legislation has not yet advanced; and

WHEREAS, the nation’s mayors recognize that issues related to aquatic invasive species are urgent and that time is of the essence with respect to protecting the nation’s waters and the nation’s communities from their harmful ecological and economic consequences;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the Congress to enact the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2005 in order to help prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species in the nation’s waters; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The U.S. Conference of Mayors urges the Congress to provide maximum funding for existing aquatic invasive species control and prevention programs, even in the absence of new federal invasive species legislation.