THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, D. COSTA, BEYER, BISHOP, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, DiGIROLAMO, FLECK, GIBBONS, HENNESSEY, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MILLARD, M. O'BRIEN, PHILLIPS, ROCK, SANTARSIERO, SIPTROTH, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, DALEY, DONATUCCI, GEORGE, GRUCELA, HESS, KIRKLAND, KULA, MARSHALL, MIRABITO, PALLONE, READSHAW, SAINATO, SANTONI, STABACK, TRUE AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 23, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 23, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of June 21 through 27, 2010, as "Pollinator

Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Pollinator species such as birds and insects,

including bees, are essential partners of farmers and ranchers

in producing much of our food supply; and

WHEREAS, Pollination plays a vital role in the health of our

national forests and grasslands, which provide forage, fish and

wildlife, timber, water, mineral resources and recreational

opportunities, as well as enhanced economic development

opportunities for communities; and

WHEREAS, Pollinator species, such as bees, provide

significant environmental benefits that are necessary for

maintaining healthy, biodiverse ecosystems; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth has managed wildlife habitats and

public lands such as forests and grasslands for decades; and

WHEREAS, The Bee Law, which appears in Chapter 21 of Title 3

of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, and other laws and

regulatory means provide producers with conservation assistance

to promote wise conservation stewardship, including the

protection and maintenance of pollinators and their habitats on

working lands and wildlands and, through the Department of

Agriculture, register and regulate each apiary; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association works

with the Department of Agriculture to promote pollination,

beekeeping and the production of honey; and

WHEREAS, Among its activities, the association:

(1)  produces a newsletter ten times per year;

(2)  meets twice yearly to conduct business;

(3)  operates a booth at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and

Ag Progress Days to promote honey and beekeeping;

(4)  maintains an education program to inspire new

beekeepers and to continue to investigate avenues to provide

information to more accomplished beekeepers;

(5)  supports Delaware Valley College and The

Pennsylvania State University in projects, staff and grant

requests that further research and continually promote

beekeeping; and

(6)  operates the Honey Queen Program to promote honey

and to provide beekeepers across this Commonwealth with a

resource person to assist in promoting honey in local areas;

and

WHEREAS, The Pollinator Partnership is a nonprofit

organization that protects the health of managed and native

pollinating animals vital to North American ecosystems and

agriculture; and

WHEREAS, The Pollinator Partnership collaborates with

stakeholders who manage or influence landscapes to do a better

job of sharing the landscape with pollinators; and

WHEREAS, The Pollinator Partnership's mission is to protect

pollinators critical to food and ecosystems through

conservation, education and research through a National

Pollinator Week, a North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

and Ecoregional Planting Guides; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the

week of June 21 through 27, 2010, as "Pollinator Week" in

Pennsylvania; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives congratulate the

Pennsylvania State Beekeepers Association, The Pennsylvania

State University Cooperative Extension, Delaware Valley College

and the Department of Agriculture for their cooperative efforts

to promote pollination, beekeeping and the production of honey;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives support the

efforts of the Pollination Partnership to annually observe a

National Pollinator Week; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the Governor

to issue a proclamation urging all citizens to recognize this

observance; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be communicated to

the Governor, the Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania

Beekeepers Association and the Pollination Partnership.