S.Res. 70 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 70 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 7, 2013 Mr. Menendez submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating the last full week of July 2013 as National Moth Week, recognizing the importance of moths in the United States, and recognizing the value of National Moth Week for promoting the conservation of moths and increasing the awareness, study, and appreciation of moths, their incredible biodiversity, and their importance to ecosystem health. Whereas moths are an incredibly diverse type of insect, with more than 12,000 species in the continental United States and Canada; Whereas moths live everywhere and in every habitat, from inner cities to the most remote and wild places; Whereas moths are important pollinators and are an essential part of the food web, providing food for a vast number of birds, bats, and other animals; Whereas moths are indicators of a healthy environment, as habitats rich in moths are diverse in other insects and wildlife; Whereas monitoring the diversity and distribution of moths can provide vital clues to changes in the environment; Whereas knowledge about many moths and moth caterpillars is limited; Whereas scientists believe that many moth species may be declining; Whereas the lack of natural history information about many moth species provides an opportunity for an individual to potentially make a meaningful scientific contribution relating to moths; Whereas National Moth Week, which was established in 2011 in East Brunswick, New Jersey by the Friends of the East Brunswick Environmental Commission, is a national and global collaboration of many individuals, environmental groups, and conservation organizations focusing much-needed attention on moths and their ecological, educational, and cultural significance; Whereas participants of National Moth Week events collect valuable information about moths and make that information available to naturalists, ecologists, and conservation scientists; Whereas National Moth Week is intended to encourage everyone, especially citizen scientists, to help increase knowledge about moths through observation and study; Whereas National Moth Week was celebrated from July 23 through July 29, 2012, in more than 300 participating locations in 49 States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and 28 countries; Whereas National Moth Week is celebrated each summer during the last full week in July; and Whereas the National Moth Week Web site, www.nationalmothweek.org, is filled with information and resources relating to moths: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate— (1) designates the last full week of July 2013 as National Moth Week; (2) recognizes the importance of moths in the United States and the value of National Moth Week for promoting the conservation of moths and increasing the awareness, study, and appreciation of moths, their incredible biodiversity, and their importance to ecosystem health; (3) applauds National Moth Week and the efforts of participants to increase awareness about the important role of moths and build support for increasing the study, appreciation, and conservation of moths; and (4) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Moth Week with appropriate activities.