{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-mussels-harder-s-control-and-eradication-bill-advancing-in-congress", "GOLDEN MUSSELS: Harder\u2019s Control and Eradication Bill Advancing in Congress", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Josh Harder", "H001090", "harder.house.gov", "harder", "https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "U.S. Fish and Wildlife signals support for Harder\u2019s bill during legislative hearing earlier today\n\nVIDEO from the hearing is available here\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced that his bill to stop the golden mussel invasion is advancing in Congress. Earlier today, the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a bipartisan hearing on Harder\u2019s Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act and highlighted the need for halting the mussels\u2019 spread and kickstarting eradication efforts.\n\n\u201cThe Service works closely with partners to combat golden mussels \u2013 last summer, we conveyed a work group to evaluate immediate and long-term needs,\u201d said Dave Miko, Acting Deputy Director for Operations at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, during the hearing. \u201cThe work group is developing a national control and management plan to guide and coordinate efforts. In January 2025, the Service published a proposed rule that would add golden mussels to the list of injurious wildlife. The service recognizes the importance of addressing invasive species and supports the goals of H.R. 3717.\u201d\n\nGolden mussels are using the Delta as the staging ground for a continental invasion:\n\nThe first U.S. sighting of golden mussels occurred near the Port of Stockton in 2024 and the infestation now ranges as far south as San Diego County.\n\nA single female mussel can produce up to one million offspring a year, and in some river systems, they have spread up to 150 miles per year on average.\n\nIf left unchecked, the infestation could threaten the water supplies relied upon by 27 million Californians and $50 billion in agriculture.\n\n\u201cOur community is on the front lines of efforts to prevent a continental infestation, but we deserve more than just becoming the nation\u2019s quarantine zone,\u201d said Rep. Harder. \u201cThat\u2019s why I introduced legislation to supercharge control efforts and invest in eradication technologies, and I\u2019m grateful to see these solutions gaining support in Congress. Washington should quickly pass this bill into law to halt the golden mussel invasion and kick them out of our waterways once and for all.\u201d\n\nHow the Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act works:\n\nDeploys a rapid response program to monitor, contain, and begin eradicating the current infestation.\n\nInvests in new technology and inspection stations to speed up local eradication efforts.\n\nIncreases state, local, and federal coordination through a comprehensive report on best practices and new guidance on golden mussel prevention.\n\n\u201cThe golden mussel is the most significant invasive species threat California\u2019s water infrastructure has faced in a generation, and it will not stay isolated to California either,\u201d said Rachel Murphy, General Manager for the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD). \u201cThe Golden Mussel Eradication and Control Act gives the country the tools to respond: a lead agency, a focused program, applied research, technical assistance, and a way to share what works. CCWD strongly supports the bill, and thanks Congressman Harder for his leadership in bringing it forward.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-mussels-harder-s-control-and-eradication-bill-advancing-in-congress"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.6679161451756954, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}