III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 747 

Recognizing the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health and agriculture 

in the United States by designating June 16 through June 22, 2024, 

as ‘‘National Pollinator Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 20, 2024 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. BRAUN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health 

and agriculture in the United States by designating June 

16 through June 22, 2024, as ‘‘National Pollinator 

Week’’. 

Whereas pollinators like native bees, butterflies and moths, 

birds and bats, and beetles play a vital role in agriculture 

throughout the United States and help to produce a 

healthy and affordable food supply while also maintaining 

the health and diversity of ecosystems; 

Whereas various native pollinator species help to reproduce at 

least 80 percent of flowering plants, making pollinators 

indispensable for sustaining the biodiversity of natural 

ecosystems; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•SRES 747 ATS 

Whereas enhancing native pollinator and honey bee populations can result in improved and essential pollination 

services for neighboring land, including agriculture and 

wildlife ecosystems; 

Whereas it is in the strong economic interest of agricultural 

producers and consumers in the United States to help ensure healthy, sustainable, pollinator populations, as pollinators add more than $18,000,000,000 in revenue to 

crop production in the United States each year, including 

more than 100 crops that either need or benefit from native pollinators; 

Whereas pollinators also contribute to clean air and water, 

stable soil, and a diversity of wildlife needed for healthy 

and productive natural ecosystems; 

Whereas more than 1⁄4 of North American bumble bees are 

facing risk of extinction, while iconic species like the 

North American migratory monarch butterfly and the 

American bumble bee have declined by 85 percent and 90 

percent respectively due to dwindling habitat, disease, 

and other threats; 

Whereas the Western monarch butterfly population has significantly declined from nearly 10,000,000 butterflies in 

the 1980s to fewer than 2,000 butterflies in 2020, and 

while numbers have made modest gains in the last few 

years, the population of this iconic species remains perilously small and vulnerable to yearly fluctuations; 

Whereas nearly 70 native pollinator species are listed by the 

Federal Government as threatened or endangered, with 

the rusty patched bumble bee, the Powesheik skipperling, 

and the Dakota skipper listed within the past decade; 

and 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•SRES 747 ATS 

Whereas declines in the health and population of native pollinators potentially pose a substantial threat to global food 

webs, ecological diversity, and human health: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses support for the designation June 

3 16 through June 22, 2024, as ‘‘National Pollinator 

4 Week’’; 

5 (2) acknowledges the significance that all types 

6 of pollinators play in sustaining agriculture, pro7 moting biodiversity, and maintaining the overall 

8 health of natural ecosystems; 

9 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

10 to observe Pollinator Week with appropriate cere11 monies and conservation and educational activities; 

12 and 

13 (4) intends to— 

14 (A) continue working to conserve native 

15 pollinator species and their various habitats; 

16 and 

17 (B) work to improve the overall under18 standing of the importance of native pollinators. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB