Lawmakers also introduce bipartisan resolution marking National Pollinator Week
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) today teamed up to introduce the Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat (MONARCH) Act. The bicameral bill would help prevent the extinction of the Western Monarch butterfly and other critically important pollinators.
“Our monarchs are in grave danger. We’ve all experienced the moment of childhood joy and excitement when we spot a butterfly dancing in the air, and their beauty contributes to the health of our planet and the crops we rely on for sustenance, too,” said Merkley. “The monarch butterfly is in danger of extinction if we fail to take bold action to protect them, and we must all work together to advance sustainable solutions—like our MONARCH Act—to protect this iconic species and other pollinators.”
Recently, the populations of our pollinators, including our western monarch butterfly, are decreasing dramatically, which could threaten our environment and agriculture,” said Panetta. “That’s why I’m reintroducing the MONARCH Act and our Pollinator Week Resolution which would restore critical habitat, invest in science-based conservation, and raise awareness of the importance of these essential species. Protecting pollinators is a matter of environmental responsibility and agricultural resilience, and I’m committed to ensuring we do our part to save these species so central to the history and character of our home.”
The MONARCH Act provides urgent protections for the struggling Western Monarch butterfly, whose population has dropped by 99 percent since the 1980s. This legislation would authorize $62.5 million for projects aimed at conserving this iconic species and an additional $62.5 million to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan, which was prepared by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in January 2019. The $62.5 million in funding for each effort would be divided into five annual installments of $12.5 million.
The MONARCH Act is cosponsored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24). The MONARCH Act is endorsed by leading environmental and conservation organizations including the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Wildlife Federation, Environment America, and the Center for Biological Diversity.
“Western monarch butterflies are in trouble as populations have declined from as many as ten million in the 1980s to less than 10,000 in 2024 – a loss of 99%,” said Scott Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “The MONARCH Act will help provide the resources needed to recover western monarch populations so that our kids and grandkids can enjoy and delight in this migration for generations to come.”
“The MONARCH Act recognizes that we must act quickly if we want to save America’s most iconic butterfly from collapse,” said Stephanie Kurose, deputy director of government affairs at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Western monarchs need all the help they can get. This bill gives them a glimmer of hope of surviving the extinction crisis.”
“Monarch butterflies and their epic migratory journey are a miracle of nature, spreading joy across America each year – but they could go extinct on our watch,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America. “Environment America is proud to support the MONARCH Act, which will protect these butterflies and the habitat they need so they can continue to fill our skies and our hearts.”
Merkley and Panetta also joined forces with U.S. Representative Rudy Yakym (R-IN-02) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution designating June 15 through June 21, 2025, as “National Pollinator Week.” The resolution recognizes the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health and agriculture in the United States.
The National Pollinator Week resolution is endorsed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Xerces Society, Environment America, and National Wildlife Federation.
“Pollinators are vital not only to the crops we grow, but to the ecosystems that sustain them. National Pollinator Week recognizes that working lands and natural landscapes are deeply connected and when pollinators thrive, Oregon’s agriculture, wildlife, and environment thrive together,” said Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture
“ODFW believes that our biodiversity is worth protecting. That is why I am pleased to support National Pollinator Week as a celebration of our birds, bees, and butterflies and the critical role that these species play in sustaining the Oregon way of life,” said Debbie Colbert, Director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“Pollinators are vital to life on our planet, and we are very happy to support the designation of National Pollinator Week,” said Scott Hoffman Black, Executive Director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “Continuing to recognize the importance of these animals is a significant step to ensure they grace our farms, meadows and cities into the future.”
“Our country is blessed with nearly 4,000 wild bee species, from the American bumblebee to the Southeastern blueberry bee,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America. “But many bees are disappearing from our fields, forests and gardens as we use more pesticides. This Pollinator Week, let’s work together to save the bees.”
“Pollinators are essential and truly irreplaceable for the health of our natural ecosystems and our food production. We commend Senator Merkley and Representatives Panetta and Yakim for bringing much needed attention to our native pollinators’ imperiled status and the need for immediate conservation action. By championing America’s pollinators, we actively safeguard the sustainability of our future,” said Dr. Rebeca Quiñonez-Piñón, National Wildlife Federation’s Senior Scientist.
For years, Merkley has led a series of actions to revive the populations of monarchs and other pollinators, like honeybees. His efforts include hosting Monarch Butterfly Summits, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the first of which announced a $1 million investment in the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Pollinator Fund and established a Pollinator Conservation Center at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As former Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Interior Department, he secured more than $18 million in dedicated funding for monarch and pollinator conservation. Merkley also introduced and passed the bipartisan Monarch and Pollinator Highway Act and introduced the Pollinator Power Act, which would incentivize pollinator habitats surrounding new solar projects carried out through the Rural Energy for America Program.
Full text of the MONARCH Act can be found by clicking here.
Full text of the National Pollinator Week resolution can be found by clicking here.
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