R 297

2016 -- S 3069 Enacted 06/14/2016

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF JUNE 15-21, 2016, AS "NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators Miller, and Sosnowski

Date Introduced: June 09, 2016

WHEREAS, Pollinators such as honey bees, native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies

contribute substantially to the economy of the United States, adding more than $15 billion in

value to agricultural crops each year. Pollinators are vital to keeping fruits, nuts, and vegetables in

our daily diets; and

WHEREAS, Pollinator losses over the past few decades require careful study and

attention to ensure the sustainability of our food production systems, to avoid additional

economic impact on the agricultural sector, and to protect environmental health; and

WHEREAS, President Barack Obama has established a Pollinator Health Task Force to

create and implement federal strategies that promote the health of honey bees and other

pollinators; and

WHEREAS, It is critically important to expand federal efforts and to take new steps,

including development of new public-private partnerships and increased citizen engagement, to

encourage the protection of pollinators, to increase the quality and amount of pollinator habitat

and forage, to reverse pollinator losses, and to help restore pollinator populations to healthy

levels; and

WHEREAS, The declining populations of pollinators, especially bumble bees and honey

bees, are a concern for Rhode Island's farmers and agriculture industry which supports over 2,500

jobs and contributes $239 million to our economy; and

WHEREAS, The important function of pollinators extends beyond agriculture and

includes related plant-based industries such as landscaping, floriculture, and golf courses; and

WHEREAS, In 2015, green-related industries supported a total of 23,562 jobs (15,826

direct; 7,736 indirect) and added $4.39 billion ($2.5 billion in direct output; $1.89 billion in

indirect output) to our state's economic output; and

WHEREAS, Nine years ago, the United States Senate unanimously designated a week in

June as "National Pollinator Week” to highlight the need to address the issue of declining

pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown into an international celebration that

recognizes the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles;

and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the United States

Department of the Interior have declared June 15-21, 2016, as National Pollinator Week; now,

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes the vital significance of protecting pollinator health and therefore recognizes

the week of June 15-21, 2016, as "National Pollinator Week" in the State of Rhode Island; and be

it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Ms. Janet Coit, Director, Rhode Island

Department of Environmental Management.

========

LC006126

========