PA Environment Digest Blog: Sen. Comitta Introduces Legislation To Establish PA Pollinator Habitat Program To Support Migrating Pollinators

On June 1, Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) introduced a two-bill package establishing the PA Pollinator Habitat Program in the Department of Transportation in collaboration with the departments of Agriculture and DCNR.

The objective of the program is to create native grass and perennial wildflower-filled habitats along state highways to support the migration of pollinators.

The bills are--

-- Senate Bill 1250 (Comitta-D-Chester) would establish the PA Pollinator Habitat Program in the Department of Transportation; and

-- Senate Bill 1249 (Comitta-D-Chester) would establish a special vehicle license plate to help fund the PA Pollinator Habitat Program.

“Pollinators are necessary for about 75 percent of the plants grown across the world for food, beverages, spices, and medicine,” said Sen. Comitta. “Without pollinators, our food system would be unrecognizable. Unfortunately, a decline in pollinator populations is occurring throughout Pennsylvania and across the nation.

“With agricultural monocrop expansion and consistent loss of habitat due encroaching urbanization, pollinators are left with a limited food supply and a loss of basic needs,” Sen. Comitta explained. “To combat this potentially apocalyptic problem, states have begun implementing roadside pollinator habitat programs. These programs create pollinator habitats filled with native plants along roadsides to help sustain pollinator populations.

“The deep-rooted native plants will also provide benefits for stormwater, infiltration, soil stabilization, and water quality, while reducing the cost of roadside maintenance through minimized mowing needs,” said Sen. Comitta. “Having a large population of pollinators in Pennsylvania is critical to the health and wealth of our heavily agricultural state.”

Rep. Kristine Howard (D-Chester) introduced companion bills in the House-- House Bill 1758 and House Bill 1759 last year.

The Senate and House bills were referred to the Transportation Committees.

NewsClip:

-- Penn State: Managing Habitat For Flowering Plants May Mitigate Climate Effects On Bee Health

Resource Links - Native Plants:

-- Pollinator Gardens: Help Encourage Ecological Diversity In Your Own Backyard [Videos]

-- Gardening For Butterflies: Penn State Extension

-- Planting For Pollinators: Penn State Extension

-- Penn State Extension Master Gardeners

-- Penn State Pollinator Garden Certification

-- PennDOT: Adopt And Beautify - Keystone Pollinator Habitat

-- PennDOT: Pollinator Habitat Plan