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[Extensions of Remarks] [Page E1066] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] INTRODUCING THE ``SAVING AMERICA'S POLLINATORS ACT OF 2013'' ______ HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR. of michigan in the house of representatives Tuesday, July 16, 2013 Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with the support of my colleague and friend Mr. Blumenauer of Oregon to introduce the ``Saving America's Pollinators Act of 2013.'' This legislation requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to take swift action and prevent future mass die-offs of honey bees. One of every three bites of food we eat is from a crop pollinated by honey bees. These crops include: apples, avocados, cranberries, cherries, broccoli, peaches, carrots, grapes, soybeans, sugar beets and onions. Unfortunately, unless swift action is taken, these crops, and numerous others, will soon disappear due to the dramatic decline of honey bee populations throughout the country. For over a decade now, honey bees have been suffering rapid population losses as a result of a phenomenon known as `colony collapse disorder.' Another decade of these mass die-offs will severely threaten our agricultural economy and food supply system. Scientists have reported that common symptoms of this decline are attributed to the use of a class of insecticides known as neonicotinoids. The 'Saving America's Pollinators Act' will address the decline of honey bee populations by directing the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend the registration of certain neonicotinoids--known as imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotafuran--and any other members of the nitro group of neonicotinoid insecticides until the Administrator has made a determination that such insecticides will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on pollinators based on an evaluation of peer-review scientific evidence and a completed field study. The bill will also require the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to regularly monitor the health and population status of native bees and identify the scope and likely causes of unusual native bee mortality. This legislation is extremely critical to examining the death of honey bees and will allow us the opportunity to adequately secure our future food supply. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and protect America's pollinators. ____________________