R 269

2018 -- H 8248 Enacted 05/29/2018

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING THE WEEK OF JUNE 18TH - 24TH, 2018, AS "NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Carson, Canario, Donovan, Casimiro, and Fogarty

Date Introduced: May 29, 2018

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

pollen from one flower to another and are vital to agriculture production; and

WHEREAS, Pollinators contribute substantially to the economy of the United States,

adding billions of dollars in value to agricultural crops each year. Pollinators help pollinate over

75 percent of our flowering plants and nearly 75 percent of all our crops, and 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, 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 1,243

farms and contributes $59.6 million per year 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, Eleven 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 18-24, 2018, as National Pollinator Week; now,

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives 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 18-24, 2018, 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.

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LC005507

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