Reps. Mayes, Accavitti, Bieda, Hansen, Rick Jones, Lemmons, Sak, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Spade, Vagnozzi, Proos, Brown, Constan, Espinoza, Gonzales, Hopgood, Polidori, Scott, Alma Smith, Caswell, Emmons, Hammel, Meisner, Ball, Brandenburg, Condino, Leland, Marleau, Meadows and Dean offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 251.

            A resolution to recognize the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health and agriculture in the State of Michigan and the value of partnership efforts to increase awareness about pollinators and support for protecting and sustaining pollinators by designating June 22-28, 2008, as Michigan Pollinator Week in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Bees, butterflies, and other pollinator species have a critically important role in agriculture in the state of Michigan and help to produce a healthy and affordable food supply and sustain ecosystem health; and

            Whereas, Pollinators help to produce an estimated one out of every three bites of food consumed in the United State and to reproduce at least 80 percent of flowering plants; and

            Whereas, Commodities produced in partnership with animal pollinators generate significant income for agricultural producers, with domestic honeybees alone pollinating an estimated $14,600,000,000 worth of crops in the United States each year produced on more than 2,000,000 acres; and 

            Whereas, It is in the strong economic interest of agricultural producers and consumers in the state of Michigan as well as the United States to help ensure a healthy, sustainable pollinator population; and

            Whereas, Possible declines in the health and population of pollinators pose what could be a significant threat to global food webs, the integrity of biodiversity, and human health; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body designates the week of June 22 through June 28, 2008, as Michigan Pollinator Week in the state of Michigan; and be it further

            Resolved, That we recognize the partnership role that pollinators play in agriculture and healthy ecosystems, and applaud the cooperative conservation collaborative efforts of participants that want to increase awareness about the important role of pollinators, and to build support for protecting and sustaining pollinators.

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