For Immediate Release

7/16/13

Contact - Patrick Malone (Blumenauer): (202)492-6172

                   Scott Black (Xerces): (503)232-6639 ext. 101

                   

 

Blumenauer, Conyers Introduce Save America's Pollinator Act

 

Washington, DC - Today, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) joined
Representative John Conyers (MI-13) in introducing The Save America's
Pollinators Act
<http://blumenauer.house.gov/images/stories/2013/Save_Americas_Pollinators_O
ne_Pager.pdf> . The legislation suspends certain uses of neonicotinoids, a
particular type of pesticide that is suspected to play a role in the bee
die-offs happening in Oregon and around the world, until the Environmental
Protection Agency reviews these chemicals and makes a new determination
about their proper application and safe use. Dinotefuran, the neonicotinoid
ingredient found in Safari insecticide, is blamed for last month's mass
die-off of an estimated 50,000 bumble bees in Wilsonville, OR - the largest
such die-off ever recorded. The Oregon Department of Agriculture is
investigating the die-off and is temporarily restricting the use of 18
pesticide products containing dinotefuran.

 

"Pollinators are not only vital to a sustainable environment, but key to a
stable food supply," Blumenauer said. "When incidents like the alarming mass
bee die-off of in Wilsonville, Oregon occur, it is imperative that we take a
step back to make sure we understand all the factors involved and move
swiftly to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future."

 

"Honey bees have been suffering rapid population losses for over a decade
now," said Conyers.  "Another decade of these mass die-offs will severely
threaten our agricultural economy and food supply system. It is critical and
extremely necessary that we immediately begin to examine the death of honey
bees and quickly take action to secure our food supply system."  

 

"It is time for the Environmental Protection Agency to take a stronger
stance on pollinator protection." said Scott Hoffman Black, Executive
Director of the Xerces Society. "The European Union has put restrictions in
place on several neonicotinoids -- we need a similar response here."

 

Blumenauer has long sought federal funding for increased research on
pollinators, protections for declining bee populations, and is the
co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Pollinators Caucus. Scott
Hoffman Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society, joined the
Congressman for a press conference in Portland where he discussed the
specifics of the Oregon die-off and how to prevent future incidents. Lori
Vollmer, the owner of Garden Fever nursery in Portland, also made a
presentation. She chose to stop selling neonicotinoid products after the
Wilsonville disaster.

 

###

 

Patrick Malone

Director of Communications

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03)

(202)225-4811

1111 Longworth House Office Building

b

 


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