Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Pollinators Week. It is a time when we encourage protection of 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 diet, and healthy pollinator populations are crucial to the continued economic well-being of rural America and the U.S. economy. Worldwide, approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverage, fiber, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals to produce the goods we depend upon. The number of honeybee hives has declined from 6 million in the 1940s to about 2.5 million today, and we need to increase these habitats. American farmers have no better friend than the honeybee, and more than one third of the U.S. crops require pollination, including blueberries, chocolate, coffee, melons, peaches, pumpkins, vanilla, and almonds. Mr. Speaker, as one who has had a beehive in my backyard, I fully support efforts to raise awareness and keep our pollinators buzzing for generations to come. ____________________”