Rep. Houlahan hosts press conference at Braeloch Brewing to announce her bipartisan effort to eradicate the Spotted Lanternfly. Behind her from left to right are Heather Leach, a leading entomologist focused on spotted lanternfly research from Penn State University, Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick, PA State Senator John Kane, and Kent Steeves, owner of Braeloch Brewing.

KENNETT SQUARE – This week, U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan visited Braeloch Brewing in Kennett Square to announce her bipartisan effort with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) to eradicate the spotted lanternfly. In a letter to United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, Houlahan, Fitzpatrick, and a bipartisan contingent of the PA delegation advocated for increased funding for spotted lanternfly research. Houlahan visited Braeloch Brewing to discuss the economic impact of the invasive pest on hop production, a key ingredient in craft beer. 

“Since coming to Congress, this community had been on the front lines of eradicating the spotted lanternfly pest,” said Houlahan. “It continues to have a huge economic impact here in Chester and Berks counties, not just on our farmers, but on small business owners who rely on these supply chains and agricultural products. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with Kent Steeves, the owner of Braeloch Brewing, about how his business has suffered due to the growth in population of this invasive species. I am committed to working on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues, Brian Fitzpatrick and other members of our PA delegation, and local leaders, PA Senator John Kane and Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick who joined us at Braeloch, to eradicate the spotted lanternfly once and for all.”

“Since 2014, Spotted Lanternflies have wreaked havoc on Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector, damaging our trees, vineyards, crop yields, and even our economy. Economic data from Penn State shows that the Spotted Lanternfly could cost Pennsylvania up to $324 million annually and the potential loss of up to 2,800 jobs. While there has been some progress, it is critically important we continue to secure more funding for research to combat and eradicate this invasive species once and for all,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick. “I am proud to join Rep. Houlahan as we step up and fight for our communities' farmers and the vital role they play in our local economy.”

“I want to thank Rep. Houlahan for her leadership on this issue and for her work in providing resources to Pennsylvania to deal with this infestation,” said PA State Senator John Kane. “The Spotted Lanternfly is more than just a pest -- lanternflies are projected to cost Pennsylvania hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of jobs, much of that damage occurring here in Southeast PA. I'm glad to have our Representative working to protect farmers and workers from crop destruction and additional negative effects of this infestation.”

“We were thrilled to host Representative Houlahan to highlight the challenges to businesses and the community from the invasive spotted lanternfly and to stress the need for more research funding for mitigating damages caused by the pests,” said Kent Steeves, owner of Braeloch Brewing. “Unfortunately, we have only experienced the beginning of the devastation from the spotted lanternfly to our customers and our supply chain. These insects are invasive to hop and grape plants, essential ingredients to beer and wine.  Left unchecked, the species will have dire consequences for businesses like mine and so many other in our area. It is great to see Representative Houlahan taking on such an important cause particularly in this difficult time as we work collectively to successfully emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“Penn State scientists and Extension associates engage daily with families, landowners, and farmers to research and combat the spotted lanternfly,” said Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Dean Rick Roush. “We are developing effective and environmentally safe tools and techniques, and importantly, sharing that critical information to impacted homeowners and the agriculture industry. Our collective impact is notable, but increased investment is vital to suppressing the invasive species population. Penn State is grateful to Representatives Houlahan and Fitzpatrick for their leadership in support of efforts to fight the Spotted Lanternfly.”

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive planthopper that was first detected in Chrissy’s community in 2014 and presents a threat to the agricultural industry as it feeds on a variety of plants and crops, including grapevines, hardwoods, and ornamentals. This region has been hit hard by the pest, as it was first found in Berks County, which continues to spread throughout the Commonwealth and even into several adjoining states.

Economic data from Penn State shows that the spotted lanternfly could cost Pennsylvania up to $324 million annually to our state economy and cause the loss of about 2,800 jobs.

This past summer, spotted lanternfly sightings in Pennsylvania increased by nearly 500 percent. In Chester County alone, up to $66.9 million in orchards, vineyards, Christmas tree farms, and nursery products are potentially at risk from damage by the invasive pest.

In the 116^th Congress, Rep. Houlahan successfully worked with the United States Department of Agriculture to ensure the Department’s budget request included an increase in funding to control this pest. The former President’s FY21 budget included an increase of $4 million from FY20 to research and control SLF, for a total of $16 million. Houlahan and Fitzpatrick are seeking a further increase this Congress to combat the spread.

The full letter can be found here.

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Small Business Committee.

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