The bill, H.R. 5447, would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expedite the approval of treatments for parasitic pests of bee colonies. The USDA would also be expected to provide a report on the pathological and environmental factors impacting managed pollinator bees.
While this bill alone will not address all the issues facing bees and other pollinators, it is an important first step, says Joe Bischoff, regulatory and legislative affairs director for AmericanHort.
For more information on the H.R. 5447, and on the Pollinator Stewardship Initiative, visit the AmericanHort website and send a letter to your member of Congress.
To donate to the initiative, visit HRI research.org or Endowment.org.