[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 99 (Tuesday, June 29, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H4930-H4931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING NATIONAL POLLINATOR WEEK
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1460) recognizing the important role
pollinators play in supporting the ecosystem and supporting the goals
and ideals of National Pollinator Week.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1460
Whereas bees, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators are
vital to sustaining a healthy ecosystem;
Whereas pollinators are responsible for an estimated 1 out
of every 3 bites of food that we eat;
Whereas diversity of pollinators is necessary for diversity
of plant life and the security of our food supply;
Whereas a decline in pollinators would adversely impact
animal species that eat pollinating plants;
Whereas colony collapse disorder has caused an alarming
decline in the population of honey bees, one of the most
important pollinators;
Whereas the United States Senate designated the last week
of June as National Pollinator Week in 2006; and
Whereas the majority of States have recognized June 21-27,
2010, as National Pollinator Week: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the importance of pollinators in agriculture
and in maintaining our diverse ecosystem; and
(2) supports the goals and ideals of National Pollinator
Week.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Cardoza) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1460,
recognizing the important role that pollinators play in supporting the
ecosytem and supporting the goals and ideals of National Pollinator
Week.
Approximately three-quarters of the world's 250,000 flowering plants
require pollinators to facilitate reproduction. In addition, nearly 130
different crops that provide more than $15 billion per year in farm
gate value would cease to exist without our pollinators. In California
alone, some 1.3 million beehives pollinate over 600,000 acres of almond
trees. There is no doubt that without the healthy population of
pollinators that we currently have, our Nation's farmers will not be
able to continue to grow many of the high quality and nutritious foods
that we enjoy today.
The House Agriculture Committee has paid special attention to the
issue facing pollinators, holding several hearings in recent years to
review the status of pollinator health issues and including funds in
the 2008 farm bill to conduct much-needed research on pollinator
health. I'm proud to support this resolution brought by my colleague
today, which recognizes the importance of pollinators supporting
diverse ecosystems and the crops that produce so many of the foods
grown across this great Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this
resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1340
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.
I rise in support of House Resolution 1460, recognizing the important
role pollinators play in supporting the ecosystem and supporting the
goals and ideals of National Pollinator Week.
More than 32 State Governors designated the last week of June as
Pollinator Week to bring awareness to the important role pollinators
play in our food supply and ecosystem. In my home State of Oklahoma,
Pollinator Week was celebrated with a variety of activities and
exhibits across the State, including those at the Oxley Nature Center
in Tulsa. On a national level, the Pollinator Partnership has launched
a Web-based program to highlight specific actions that school groups,
farmers, gardeners, and others can take to support pollinators.
It is important that we bring awareness to the importance of
pollinators, given the fact that most pollinating species are in a
decline. Colony Collapse Disorder, commonly referred to as CCD,
continues to plague honeybees and will be a major concern to beekeepers
and agricultural communities.
Over the past several years, the honeybee population has experienced
a dramatic decline due to a variety of factors, including loss of
habitat, introduction of diseases and pests, and migratory stress. All
of these factors have contributed to higher operating costs for the
pollinator industry as well as the agricultural producers who rely on a
readily available supply of pollinator bees.
Pollination activities by honeybees add more than $15 billion
annually to the value of U.S. crops. With one-third of our food supply
dependent upon pollination by honeybees, we need to have a solid
understanding of CCD and how to eradicate it.
I commend researchers from the Federal and State level as well as the
industry, State universities, and State Departments of Agriculture for
coming together under the CCD Working Group. I am hopeful that this
collective group of experts can get to the bottom of this very
important problem.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the
valuable
[[Page H4931]]
contribution of America's pollinator industry by supporting House
Resolution 1460.
I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Oklahoma, my good
friend, for his support of this resolution.
At this time, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of
the resolution, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), who, without
his help, we would not have been able to pass the farm bill in 2008. He
has been continuously an advocate for pollinator research and for
making sure that specialty crops get their due day in the sun.
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my good friend from California for
yielding the time.
Mr. Speaker, today the House is going to consider H. Res. 1460, which
honors National Pollinator Week. With the efforts of the Pollinator
Partnership, a majority of States and a number of Federal agencies,
including the Department of Agriculture, have officially recognized
June 21 through June 27, 2010, as a time to reflect upon the importance
of, and challenges facing, these species.
The resolution, as offered, acknowledges how vital bees and other
pollinators are to our ecosystem and agriculture and supports the goals
and ideals of National Pollinator Week.
As mentioned by my colleague, 75 percent of all flowering plant
species rely on creatures like birds, bats, bees, and butterflies for
fertilization. It would be a misconception, however, to think that
pollinators are only important to plants and provide little benefit to
us. In fact, one out of every three bites of food that we eat as well
as $20 billion of products in the United States alone are derived from
pollinators. In light of those kinds of figures, the security of our
food supply clearly hinges on the survival of these species.
National Pollinator Week is a time to reflect upon these
contributions and what we can do to help preserve these animals. On a
similar note, Mr. Speaker, to further emphasize the importance of this
issue, I recently participated in cofounding and am now cochair of the
Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus, along with Representative
Tim Johnson, Representative Cardoza, and Representative Henry Brown of
South Carolina. The caucus is a bipartisan source of information and
discussion related to how natural, political, and economic developments
impact the security of pollinators and their habitats.
Last week, a briefing on the future of pollinators and in recognition
of National Pollinator Week was held in conjunction with the caucus and
was a tremendous success. We are planning more events and briefings to
keep Members and their staffs informed on this important issue. I urge
all of my colleagues to become members of the Congressional Pollinator
Protection Caucus.
Mr. Speaker, National Pollinator Week provides us with an opportunity
to recognize how important pollinators are to the sustainability of our
environment and to our food supply.
You know, Mr. Cardoza, several in my local media and throughout have
come forward with all sorts of humor about this; you know, ``It bees
that way,'' and ``It's the buzz'' and a whole bunch of these things.
But when all is said and done, I think we all recognize that beyond the
humor, this is a critically serious matter for the food supply of this
Nation and, indeed, the world.
Therefore, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this
resolution, and I thank you for yielding me the time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume
simply to close by thanking my colleagues Mr. Cardoza, Mr. Hastings,
and Mr. Johnson for their work on this important issue. It does make a
tremendous difference in our ecology, and certainly with a $15 billion
tag, the effect of losing these pollinators on our agricultural
economy, it's important to every consumer and every pocketbook.
With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank my colleague from
Oklahoma for his gracious advocacy on behalf of this issue.
And to my colleague from Florida, if your media were to be without
the products of these bees, that really, truly would be a news story,
Mr. Hastings. I want to thank you for your tireless advocacy on behalf
of pollinators and on behalf of agriculture generally.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1460.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
____________________