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Bat Conservation

Floor Speech

Date: Nov. 18, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Animals and Wildlife

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, recently, I had the pleasure of joining the Pennsylvania Game Commission for a briefing to highlight the importance of bats and voluntary conservation. I was also joined there by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The U.S. bat population plays an important role in Pennsylvania's ecosystem and agricultural industry. They also help producers with insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal.

This is a good thing for our environment, too, and for the health of our agricultural yields, because when the bat populations can eat thousands of insects a night, that means fewer pesticides.

These creatures are truly amazing. Several years ago, it was that vampire bat saliva could be used to create anti-stroke medication. With more than 1,300 different species, the potential for lifesaving medication, innovative agricultural practices, and any number of new discoveries is limitless.

That is why I introduced H. Res. 663, to establish October 24 to October 31 as Bat Week. Whether we realize it or not, bats play a role in our everyday lives, and they deserve our commitment to conservation.

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