Senator Boxer Introduces Bill to Promote Bee Research (July 2)

[The Straight Story]

I missed this last month...Go BOXER!

Senator Boxer Introduces Bill to Promote Bee Research

July 02 , 2007

I am pleased to let you know that I have introduced the Pollinator Protection Act, a bill to increase funding for research on honey bees and native pollinators, whose numbers have been in troubling decline in recent decades. To compound matters, this past winter honey bee colonies have been devastated by a phenomenon termed Colony Collapse Disorder.

Managed honey bee colonies have collapsed at alarming rates, 25% nationwide, and scientists still have not fully discovered why. But the latest declines are part of a larger trend, with honey bee colonies down 50% in the past 50 years. A study released by the National Academy of Sciences, “Status of Pollinators in North America” found similar losses in native pollinator populations and called for increased study to determine the extent of this distressing problem. Because native and honey bees pollinate so many crops, this decline, if not stopped, could impact many crops dependent on animal pollination and cause both increased prices and shortages of many food crops including almonds, avocados, cranberries, apples, and soybeans.

The Pollinator Protection Act provides for:
– $28.75 million for the Agriculture Research Service over five years for research, personnel, and facility improvements relating to work on Colony Collapse Disorder, honey and native bee toxicology, pathology and physiology.
– $50 million for the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service over five years to fund research grants to investigate honey and native bee immunology, biology, ecology, and other factors of pollination biology.
– $11 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) over five years to conduct a nationwide honey bee pest and pathogen surveillance program.

The bill also requires an annual report to Congress on the status and progress of bee research projects.

I am also a cosponsor of Senator Baucus’s Pollinator Habitat Protection Act, which encourages conservation efforts to improve the health of our nation’s bees. My bill aims to apply direct research funding to address Colony Collapse Disorder and pollinator declines in North America. Taken together, our two bills aim to protect America’s bee population and the vitally important services that bees and native pollinators provide to our nation’s agriculture.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer, US Senator, California

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

http://boxer.senate.gov/news/outreach/2007/07/pollinatorprotection.cfm

[DangerDave921]

1. Thank the Lord

At least someone gets it! (sarcasm)

Millions of dollars are just play-money for politicians. There is no sense of scale anymore. Money is to be tossed at whatever cause du jour someone has, with no thought as to the average workers from whom this money is taken by force of law.

[Peggy Day]

2. I don't know if you are for this or against it, but without bees, we are

pretty bad off.

[DangerDave921]

3. For or against?

I have not done any independent research on bees. I just see roughly $90 million (and it will go up) tossed around so easily nowadays.

Don't mean to overreact. I know bees are important. But does the goverment have to have its hand in F'ing everything?!?!

[Peggy Day]

4. Everything is "billions" nowadays too.

Here's a bit of info on the bee problem.

http://www.celsias.com/2007/03/15/bee-colony-collapse-disorder-where-is-it-heading/

[orleans]

8. apparently you have NO CLUE as to what is happening to the bees

and you have NO FUCKING CLUE what this could mean for THE WORLD'S FOOD SUPPLY

otherwise, you would be calling boxer and THANKING HER FOR HER MAKING A MOVE ON THIS ISSUE THAT COULD IMPACT THE WORLD'S FOOD SUPPLY--INCLUDING YOURS!

[DangerDave921]

9. Rude

Do you really have to be so rude as to use ALL CAPS and saying FUCK to me??? Go F yourself.

[orleans]

11. right back at ya

[Akoto]

10. This is one area I don't mind lots being invested into.

Bees are remarkably critical to our food supply. Honestly, I hadn't realized the vital function they serve until I became curious about their disappearances.

About 25% of our food supply is pollinated by bees. If they die out, a lot of people will very suddenly be experiencing food shortages. Fortunately, they seem to have identified a virus as a potential cause. If that pans out, they might be able to work up a solution.

[gorekerrydreamticket]

5. Good! This is important! n/m

[Mutineer]

6. Please don't let it be my cell phone

which has nuked the bees.

[orleans]

7. good news. it might be virus instead of the cell phone

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6978848.stm

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2980768

[lovuian]

12. Alleluia and Thanks to Boxer

Alleluia

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lH9mpHNawSs

[Subdivisions]

13. Just. Wow. You mean to tell me that

something worthwhile might actually have the opportunity to come from this Congress.

I'll believe it when I see it.

[Kingofalldems]

14. I haven't seen a honey bee all summer

Something is terribly wrong.

[shugah]

15. introduced in july

what has become of the bill?

i'm worried about the bees. no honey bees to be seen in my neighborhood this summer :-(