Carbajal joins Rep. Panetta, Senator Merkley in Introducing Two Bills to Save the Western Monarch Butterfly
The MONARCH Act and Pollinator Highway Act have both been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon).
How will the MONARCH and Pollinator Highway Act help protect monarch butterflies?
- The MONARCH Act would authorize $62.5 million for projects aimed at conserving the western monarch and an additional $62.5 million to implement the Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan.
- The Monarch and Pollinator Highway Act would establish a federal grant program available to state departments of transportation and Native American tribes to carry out pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway rights-of-way.
- The Acts would help address the steep decline of pollinator populations, which poses a serious threat to California farmers and the American food supply.
This iconic and important butterfly’s population has dropped by 99% since the 1980s. Degradation of the monarch population is primarily due to loss of habitat, pesticide use, and climate change. It’s essential that we act swiftly to restore habitat and ensure monarch butterflies have a thriving future.
Click here to learn about the work CARCD is doing to restore monarch populations.
Click here to read the press release from the Office of Rep. Salud Carbajal.
Click here to learn how you can take action with the Xerces Society.