Guam's battle against invasive species may get a boost from US House bill

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

Guam's efforts to control further repopulation invasive species on island may receive a boost from a bill seeking to expand federal efforts to combat environmentally destructive species.

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted 371-33 to approve Rep. Ed Case's National Wildlife Refuge System Invasive Species Strike Team Act, which would expand federal efforts to combat invasive species that pose threats to the nation's environments.

“For island communities like Guam, invasive species are more than an environmental concern; they threaten our ecosystems, agriculture, economy and way of life," said Guam Del. James Moylan, co-sponsor of  

“Once an invasive species takes hold on an island, the cost of eradication can be enormous, and the damage may be impossible to reverse," he added.

The bill would authorize $10 million annually from fiscal 2027 through 2033

to support ongoing initiatives to control invasive species.

Case, a Democrat from Hawaii, said his state is facing unique challenges from invasive species.

"Our isolation has led to the evolution of many endemic species that are found nowhere else on Earth,” he said.

“Our measure is especially timely as we reckon with the wide-ranging ripple effect of the recent storms that have struck the state, including accelerated spread of destructive invasive species especially in vulnerable places such as our national wildlife refuges."

The bill intends to strengthen early detection and rapid response from the National Wildlife Refuge System.

"Prevention is our best defense, and investing in it today will help protect

America’s natural resources, preserve our unique biodiversity and save taxpayers from far greater costs down the road," Case said.

The bill would codify the existing Invasive Species Strike Teams program currently operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The specialized teams play an essential role in managing emerging invasive species, employing strategies tailored to local conditions across the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Jill Feldhusen, senior manager of wildlife policy at the National Wildlife Federation, welcomed the bill's passage.

“By establishing dedicated, regional strike teams, this bipartisan bill helps refuges respond more rapidly to invasive species threats before they cause lasting harm," she said.

Case said formally establishing the Invasive Species Strike Teams program will create a stable and legally supported framework to ensure consistent funding and enhance management efforts. The act also signifies a transformative shift within the FWS, moving from a reactive, species-by-species approach to a more strategic, ecosystem-wide framework for managing emerging invasive species.

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