In recent years, scientists have come to realize that the honeybee population has been dropping at a substantial rate. This is a problem not only in the United States, but throughout the world. The current fear is that food crops will be devastated because there are not enough bees to pollinate the existing crops. Honeybee decline is occurring for several reasons. However, current research shows a promising future. Congress has the power to fix this problem that could have a devastating effect on, not only the United States, but also the entire planet. Since the 1940s, the bee population in the United States has dropped from over 5 million to 2.5 million. One of the most prevalent causes of the decrease in the population is Colony Collapse …show more content…
First, Congress should ban all pesticides, like neonicotinoids, that have been proven to harm bees and pollinating insects. Short of banning pesticides, Congress can also give tax breaks to farmers who do not use pesticides. This is one of the simplest solutions to this problem. Congress can also gives tax breaks to people with existing honey bee hives, or to people who start their own hives. Also, Congress needs to set aside funding for research on the new vaccines. Finally, farmers should be encouraged and supported to leave portions of their land fallow for part of the year. This would allow native plants and weeds to grow, which provides the bees with a variety of food sources, which would improve their nutrition. In conclusion, the United States government wields enough power to enact legislation to prevent any more honey bee decline and even begin to rebuild the bee population. It is necessary for Congress to work together with other countries who are making progress toward repairing honey bee deaths by mimicking the practices that have worked for them and through the sharing of information. Additionally, it is important that Congress is willing to act quickly as new research and information is discovered. Congress must be ready to pass new legislation as new discoveries are