Should we ban pesticides known to be toxic to bees?
Bill Summary
This bill would direct the EPA to ban several common pesticides (known as neonicotinoids) that have been found to be toxic to bees and other pollinators. The bill would also call upon the EPA to conduct regular monitoring of the health and population status of honey bees in the United States. Sponsor: John Conyers [D-MI-13]
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Opponents say
• Representative Michael Conaway [R-TX-11], chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, said, “We need a lot more evidence on what’s causing [bee declines], but I’m willing to talk to my Democratic colleagues on this issue because it’s important to all of us.”
• According to a statement from Syngenta, a global agribusiness company, “Landscape management, good beekeeping practices and planting wild flower margins are all important factors in bee health and where properly applied, the impact of neonicotinoids can be minimal or in some cases even positive.”
• According to a statement from Syngenta, a global agribusiness company, “Landscape management, good beekeeping practices and planting wild flower margins are all important factors in bee health and where properly applied, the impact of neonicotinoids can be minimal or in some cases even positive.”
Proponents say
• Representative Earl Blumenauer [D-OR-3], a co-sponsor of the bill, asserts, “Pollinators are not only vital to a sustainable environment, but key to a stable food supply... It is imperative that we take a step back to make sure we understand all the factors involved in bee population decline and move swiftly to protect our pollinators.”
• Paul Towers, media director of the Pesticide Action Network, noted, “Following the worst year for bee losses in U.S. history, [EPA] officials have focused attention on a series of endless meetings rather than coordinated action. The Saving America’s Pollinators Act would address these regulatory failures and take bee-harming pesticides off the market.”
• Paul Towers, media director of the Pesticide Action Network, noted, “Following the worst year for bee losses in U.S. history, [EPA] officials have focused attention on a series of endless meetings rather than coordinated action. The Saving America’s Pollinators Act would address these regulatory failures and take bee-harming pesticides off the market.”
- Reps. Conyers and Blumenauer Introduce Legislation Protecting Pollinators and America's Food System
- Bee Pesticide Ban Debate Could Arise in Next Farm Bill
- How Maryland Lawmakers Are Trying to Save Bees
- White House Task Force To Save Bees Stirs Hornet’s Nest
- What Is Killing America’s Bees and What Does It Mean for Us?
