[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – United States Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his bill, the Invasive Species Revolving Loan Fund, is included in the 2007 Farm Bill, which the full Senate approved this afternoon.

“It has been a year and a half since the first case of Emerald Ash Borer was found in Illinois. Since then, the infestation has worsened,” said Durbin. “With over 131 million ash trees in Illinois, it’s crucial that we reverse this trend. The legislation the Senate passed today will make the funds available for communities to get ahead of this problem and others caused by similar invasive species.”

Durbin's bill, the Invasive Species Revolving Loan Fund, is designed to help municipalities defray the costs of invasive species management activities normally performed by the federal government. EAB management activities, for instance, include surveying trees, removing infested trees and replacing removed trees. The bill creates a low-interest revolving loan fund for communities for the purchase of capital equipment and replacement trees to perform duties on municipal government land within quarantine areas. Communities would have a 20-year window to repay the loan. In addition, the bill would allow states to contract with local units of government to perform invasive species management duties.

The current federal program does not reimburse municipalities for expenses related to invasive species prevention. While states are able to contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for cost-sharing assistance, the funding does not reach the municipal level. States are not directed to enter into cooperative funding agreements with local governments.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a bright green beetle that kills trees by burrowing into their bark and destroying the trees’ ability to bring water from the roots to upper branches. Infected trees usually begin to die within two to three years.