[Pollinator] Merkley, Congressmen Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill To Prevent the Extinction of Western Monarch Butterflies

Thu Feb 20 10:17:59 PST 2020

Hi folks.

Today, Sen Merkley (D-Ore.) joined with Reps. Panetta (D-CA-20), Carbajal
(D-CA-24), Davis (R-IL-12), and Woodall (R-GA-7) to introduce the Monarch
Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act. The MONARCH Act will
provide significant funding to support monarch conservation in the western
states.. Please see the press release from the Senator’s office below.

Thanks!

Matthew

*******************************

United States Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2020

Contact: Martina McLennan
<martina_mclennan at merkley.senate.gov?subject=In%20Response%20To:%20Merkley,%20Congressmen%20Introduce%20Bicameral,%20Bipartisan%20Bill%20To%20Prevent%20the%20Extinction%20of%20Western%20Monarch%20Butterflies>
/Ray Zaccaro
<ray_zaccaro at merkley.senate.gov?subject=In%20Response%20To:%20Merkley,%20Congressmen%20Introduce%20Bicameral,%20Bipartisan%20Bill%20To%20Prevent%20the%20Extinction%20of%20Western%20Monarch%20Butterflies>
(Merkley) – 202-224-3753

*Merkley, Congressmen Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill To Prevent the
Extinction of Western Monarch Butterflies*

*American agriculture depends on survival of the species and other
pollinators*

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Representatives Jimmy
Panetta (D-CA-20), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Rodney Davis (R-IL-12), and
Rob Woodall (R-GA-7) today led the introduction of the *Monarch Action,
Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat (MONARCH) Act*. This bipartisan,
bicameral legislation would provide urgent protections for the struggling
western monarch butterfly, a pollinator that is integral to supporting
American agriculture and whose population has dropped by 99% since the
1980s.

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory
Booker (D-NJ), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in the Senate, and
Representatives Alcee Hastings (D-FL-20), Jerry McNerney (D-CA-9), Chellie
Pingree (D-ME-1), Mike Thompson (D-CA-5), and Joe Courtney (D-CT-2) in the
House.

“As the western monarch butterfly comes closer and closer to extinction, we
don’t just risk losing these beautiful creatures—we also face an increasing
threat to American agriculture and our food supply,” *said Merkley*. “This
is an urgent issue that requires urgent solutions. That’s why we must do
everything we can to implement experts’ conservation plans and save these
species before time runs out.”

"My district on the central coast of California is home to four of the top
10 high priority overwintering sites for western monarch butterflies.
Sadly, as climate change continues to degrade their habitat, we have seen a
huge decline in the number of monarchs on the Central Coast and along their
migratory path,"* said Rep. Panetta. *"The MONARCH Act will provide
critical federal investment in the activities needed to save the Western
Monarch butterfly population from extinction. By actively restoring and
protecting key monarch habitats, we can also help facilitate the
conservation of other essential pollinators."

"Over the past 40 years, the monarch butterfly population has dramatically
depleted. We can't let these important pollinators fall into extinction,"*
said Rep. Carbajal. *"Luckily, our MONARCH Act is a way to protect these
butterflies and, in turn, uplift our Pacific coast environment. In my
district in Pismo Beach, we have the largest overwintering site of monarchs
in the state and our ecosystem needs a healthy monarch population. Our
bipartisan MONARCH Act incentivizes communities to boost conservation and
help this population soar. I'm proud to introduce this important bill with
my colleagues today."

“Preserving our pollinators is vital to our ecosystem,”* said Rep.
Davis. *“Their
extinction would threaten agriculture and therefore, our food supply. As a
co-chair of the Pollinator Caucus, I’m proud to support bipartisan
solutions, like the MONARCH Act, which would invest in projects to protect
the western monarch butterfly.”

“I appreciate the House Pollinator Protection Caucus’ work to bring
attention to and propose solutions, like this bill, that address the
challenges associated with the decline in pollinators across the country,”*
said Rep. Woodall. *“Pollinators such as the Monarch Butterfly are vital to
our ecosystem, and to avoid the loss of this species, we have to be on the
offensive and take all necessary precautions.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that approximately 35% of the
world’s food crops depend on pollinators for survival
<https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/plantsanimals/pollinate/>.
But years of climate chaos, habitat loss, and disease are pushing
pollinators like the monarch butterfly to the brink of extinction.

The *MONARCH Act *would help meet the critical need for urgent species
recovery efforts by authorizing $62.5 million for projects aimed at
conserving the western monarch. The legislation authorizes an additional
$62.5 million to be spent by the National Fish and Wildlife Agencies to
implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was
prepared by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in January of
last year. The $62.5 million in funding for each effort would be divided
into five annual installments of $12.5 million.

“Western monarch butterflies could be the next victims of the extinction
crisis without immediate help,” *said Stephanie Kurose, endangered species
policy specialist with the Center for Biological Diversity.* “Future
generations deserve a chance to see these beautiful black and orange
butterflies in backyards across the West. Sen. Merkley and Reps. Panetta
and Carbajal’s legislation gives them a fighting chance.”

“Western monarch populations have fallen by more than 99% in the last three
decades and it is vital that we maximize conservation efforts to recover
the species,” *said Scott Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society
for Invertebrate Conservation.* “That is why Xerces strongly supports the
Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act of 2020, as it
would provide essential funding to help protect and restore habitat for
these incredible animals.”

“With so many insect species barreling towards extinction, we need to
protect and expand pollinator habitat now, more than ever,” *said Jason
Davidson, food and agriculture campaigner with Friends of the Earth.* “The
MONARCH Act would be a giant step towards protecting the pollinators we
rely on for our food system. Thank you to Senators Merkley, Harris, Booker,
and Whitehouse, and to the House sponsors of this bill, for their
leadership on pollinators.”

The legislation is endorsed by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate
Conservation, Center for Biological Diversity, National Wildlife
Federation, Monarch Joint Venture, Friends of the Earth, Western
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA), MonarchAlert, California
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), San Diego Zoo Global, City of
Pacific Grove, CA, Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency, Charles Paddock Zoo,
Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, Bees N Blooms, Safari West,
Naturedigger, Butterfly Farms, Malibu Monarch Project, Aerulean Plant
Identification Systems, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides,
People and Pollinators Action Network, Northeast Organic Farming
Association/Massachusetts Chapter, Toxic Free NC, Central Maryland
Beekeepers Association, Pollinate Minnesota, Pennies for Monarchs, the
Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City, and Unite the Parks.

Today’s announcement builds on a series of recent actions undertaken by
Senator Merkley to revive the populations of western monarchs and other
pollinators, like honeybees—including the introduction of the
bipartisan *Monarch
and Pollinator Highway (MPH) Act of 2019*
<https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-alexander-carper-rounds-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-create-monarch-and-pollinator-highways-2019>,
which would establish a federal grant program to assist with the
implementation of pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway
rights-of-way.

The full bill text of the *MONARCH Act* is available here
<https://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20.02.13%20MONARCH%20Act%20of%202020%20-%20Legislative%20Text.pdf>
.

----------

Matthew Shepherd

Director of Communications & Outreach

*he/him/his*

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