Hastings, Denham Introduce Legislation to Protect Pollinators Ahead of National Pollinator Week

Press Release

Today, Representatives Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) and Jeff Denham (R-CA), co-chairs of the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus, introduced the Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment Act, known as the Highways BEE Act.

"As Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus, I am honored to once again introduce the Highways BEE Act," Congressman Hastings said. "Through already existing authorities and funding sources, this bill will encourage the planting and cultivation of pollinator habitats and vegetation along America's highways. As recent data shows, pollinator populations, specifically honey bees, are suffering staggering population losses. There is much work left to be done in understanding the causes of this crisis and to begin the process of solving the problem -- by strengthening pollinator vegetation and habitats along our roadways, this legislation is an important step in achieving that goal."

"The Highways BEE Act will help our pollinators, which are crucial to the strength of our communities and success of our agricultural industry, stay healthy and productive," Congressman Denham said. "Allowing highway and freeway medians to bloom and flower naturally is a simple solution to provide much-needed aid to the birds, bats, bees and butterflies that pollinate our food."

"ASLA strongly commends Representatives Alcee Hastings and Jeff Denham for their work in developing a bipartisan bill that includes landscape architecture principles and practices to improve conditions for America's pollinators," said Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of the American Society of Landscape Architects. "Today's introduction of the Highways BEE Act will allow America's landscape architects to restore and preserve natural ecosystems on highway rights-of-way while helping bolster the populations of native pollinating species."

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