Article 1: Excerpt of a Congressional Meeting

For Congress
110th Congress (First Session)
Chamber: House
Subject: Problems in Domestic Bee Colonies
Witness: May R. Berenbaum

Main Purpose: The main purpose is to inform the government and the nation of the serious circumstances surrounding the dying bee colonies.

Description: The excerpt states the importance of bees to the environment, the nation’s food supply, and how they contribute to consumers with their honey. It explains how this will hurt farmers and other major areas of agriculture. They discuss some possible short term and long term recommendations for helping the bees. The article emphases the part people play in this ordeal and how they, ordinary people who know little about bees, can help them.

There are 5 sections:

Background to Colony Collapse Disorder-Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America- This part talks about the exactly Colony Collapse Disorder is and how it is affecting the bees. It talks about bees are doing when they fly around going from flower to flower. It also covers other possible sources of possible triggers of the bee fatalities.

Potential impacts of pollinator decline on US agriculture- This part explains what bees pollinate, for example fruit and vegetables, how beekeepers are handling this situation, and possible suggestions for getting more bees into the US.

Short-term and long-term recommendations for honey bees- This portion talks about getting more money for bee research to better understand some of the diseases and parasites that plaque them and increasing the dwindling population.

Wild Pollinators- putting pollen in more than one basket- This short section focuses on other pollinators besides bees and their population statues.

Pollination reserves and the American quality of life- This last part discuses the nation’s food supply and what its future may hold.

Possible Audience: This is mostly for a general audience; however, anyone in the beekeeping industry or even in the honey business would find this a good update on the problem.

Credentials: Professor and Head, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois (May R. Berenbaum), Urbana-Champaign and Chair, Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America, Board on Life Sciences and Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Council, and The National Academies