U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) today released the following statement commemorating National Pollinator Week, celebrated from June 16-22, 2014:
“As a co-chair of the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus, I am committed to fostering a healthy apiary industry and proud to recognize National Pollinator Week.
“The crucial role of insect pollinators in ensuring our agricultural community thrives cannot be overstated. Across the Central Valley, farmers depend upon insect pollinators to help them grow the food to feed the rest of the nation. Pollinator health is just one of many reasons why we must act to address our state’s crippling drought, the worst of my lifetime, which is devastating farm land across the state.
“Last month Representative Alcee Hastings and I introduced the Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment (Highways BEE) Act to encourage individual states to make decisions that take their pollinators into account when maintaining their highways. After years of steady decline in our pollinator population, we must continue to do all we can to protect the long-term viability of our bees and other beneficial insects.”
About National Pollinator Week
National Pollinator Week is managed by the Polliantor Partnership and is an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. Pollinating animals are vital to our delicate ecosystem, supporting terrestrial wildlife, providing healthy watershed, and more. Therefore, Pollinator Week is a week to get the importance of pollinators’ message out to as many people as possible.
