Congress approves funds to battle ash borers

March 11, 2009 Congress has approved more than $34 million to battle the bug across the country.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin was among the lawmakers involved in securing the funds. There are 131 million ash trees in Illinois.

Senator Durbin hopes the funds will help end the infestation. The bright green beetle kills trees by burrowing into the bark and destroying the trees' ability to bring water from the roots to upper branches.