[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 110 (Thursday, June 24, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H3092-H3093]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                      KEEP OUR POLLINATORS BUZZING

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today during 
National Pollinators Week to recognize the important work of our 
natural pollinators.

[[Page H3093]]

  Each year, Pollinator Week focuses on promoting the health of 
pollinators, critical to food and ecosystems, through conservation, 
education, and research.
  It is time we protect natural pollinator species, such as honeybees, 
native bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, as essential partners of 
farmers and ranchers in producing food.
  These pollinators are vital to keeping items like fruits, nuts, and 
vegetables in our diets. And healthy pollinator populations are crucial 
to the continued economic well-being of rural America and the U.S. 
economy.
  Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different 
plant species and more than 1,200 crops. This equates to one out of 
every three bites of food eaten being there because of pollinators.
  In addition, pollinators added $217 billion to the global economy, 
and honeybees alone are responsible for between $1.2 and $5.4 billion 
in agricultural productivity in the United States.
  Madam Speaker, as someone who has a beehive in his backyard, I fully 
support efforts to raise awareness and keep our pollinators buzzing for 
generations to come.

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