Tell Your State Legislators to Pass H.763—the Pollinator Protection Act

Tell Your State Legislators to Pass H.763—the Pollinator Protection Act—During the 2020 Session

It is beyond time for Massachusetts to pass a law to protect bees, butterflies, and other pollinators from neonicotinoid pesticides. The Massachusetts Legislature failed to act on H.763 in 2019, sponsored by Attorney General Maura Healey and Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, a bill relative to the use and protection of pollinators by further regulating the spraying, release, deposit or application of a neonicotinoid on certain agricultural land. It has been stalled in the House Committee on Ways and Means Committee since November 2019. This bill needs to move forward this year!

>>Tell members of your state legislature to pass this bill before the extended formal session ends in late 2020.

What are neonicotinoids?
Neonicotinoids (or “neonics” for short) are a group of chemicals linked to pollinator decline that kill a wide range of insect pests, including aphids, whiteflies, ants and termites. They can kill and impair the survival of pollinators like honeybees, wild bees, and butterflies, and can also impact beneficial insects, birds, and other non-insect species. Beekeepers are reporting unprecedented losses, as high as 90 percent, in hives across the county. Check out our recent blog post Wild Pollinator Declines Result in a Loss of U.S. Crop Production. Since we rely on many of these organisms for essential services like the pollination of a third of the foods we eat, it is important for us to avoid using these chemicals and instead look for safer alternatives to managing pests in our homes, gardens, schools, and communities.

What does this bill (H.763) do?
This bill limits use of neonicotinoid pesticides to certified commercial applicators, private applicators, or licensed applicators. Requires pesticide applicators to obtain authorization to apply neonics on a client's property prior to use.

Plus, we also want to urge legislators to support H.791, An Act Relative to Improving Pesticide Protections for Massachusetts's School Children, and H.792, An Act relative to the prohibition of the transfer or use of glyphosate in the Commonwealth. Please call Speaker DeLeo at 617-722-2500 and your representative to leave messages supporting these bills. Get your representative's contact information.

At Beyond Pesticides, we believe these bills are a step in the right direction in transitioning to organic land management.

>>Tell members of your state legislature to pass H.763, H.791, and H.792 before the extended formal session ends in late 2020.

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EPA needs to thoroughly test all pesticides for health hazards

Dear [elected official],

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I am writing to you because it is beyond time for Massachusetts to pass a law to protect bees, butterflies, and other pollinators from neonicotinoid pesticides. The Massachusetts Legislature did not act on H.763 in 2019, sponsored by Attorney General Maura Healey and Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, a bill relative to the use and protection of pollinators by further regulating the spraying, release, deposit or application of a neonicotinoid on certain agricultural land. It has been stalled in the House Committee on Ways and Means Committee since November 2019. Please do your part to make sure this bill passes before the end of this year’s session.

What are neonicotinoids? 
Neonicotinoids (or “neonics” for short) are a group of chemicals linked to pollinator decline that kill a wide range of insect pests, including aphids, whiteflies, ants and termites. They can kill and impair the survival of pollinators like honeybees, wild bees, and butterflies, and can also impact beneficial insects, birds, and other non-insect species. Beekeepers are reporting unprecedented losses, as high as 90 percent, in hives across the county. Since we rely on many of these organisms for essential services like the pollination of a third of the foods we eat, it is important for us to avoid using these chemicals and instead look for safer alternatives to managing pests in our homes, gardens, schools, and communities.

What does this bill (H.763) do?
This bill limits use of neonicotinoid pesticides to certified commercial applicators, private applicators, or licensed applicators. Requires pesticide applicators to obtain authorization to apply neonics on a client’s property prior to use.

We also want to urge you to support H.791, An Act Relative to Improving Pesticide Protections for Massachusetts's School Children, and H.792, An Act relative to the prohibition of the transfer or use of glyphosate in the Commonwealth.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, [Your information here]