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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Pollinator species are on the decline globally 
3due to loss of habitat, general weather trends, and altering 
4plant life cycles; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Illinois is home to many pollinator species, 
6including butterflies, bumblebees, beetles, and birds, that 
7feed upon the sweet nectar produced by various flowering 
8plants; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The conservation of Illinois' pollinator 
10population is of the utmost importance due to their link to the 
11health and success of the Illinois agricultural food chain, 
12plant vitality, biodiversity, and the enhancement of the 
13natural beauty of the State; and
 
14    WHEREAS, One of the most widely known pollinators in 
15Illinois is the Monarch Butterfly, whose young consume 
16milkweed plants, and the insect can often found be across the 
17State, ranging from prairies and meadows to wetlands and 
18woodlands; and
 
19    WHEREAS, It is the policy of Illinois to encourage native, 
20pollinator-friendly practices through the preference of 
21planting native prairie and forage plants when and where 
 
 
HR0579- 2 -LRB104 16628 ECR 30029 r

1practical; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Pollinator-friendly practices often include the 
3planting and cultivation of native plants and the reduction of 
4pesticide use; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
6HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
7we urge the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, in 
8conjunction with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, to 
9increase conservation efforts and to delay seasonal cutting of 
10milkweed and other pollinator enhancement plants along 
11Illinois waterways until August; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
13delivered to Director Natalie Phelps Finnie of the Illinois 
14Department of Natural Resources and Director Jerry Costello II 
15of the Illinois Department of Agriculture.