We need to protect bees, butterflies, and all other pollinators ... your ACTION is needed today!

For over 4 years Audubon has been advocating for the reduction of neonicotinoids (nenoics) in Rhode Island. Neonicotinoids are now the most widely used insecticides in the world and have negative health implications for bees and other pollinating insects as well as for birds and mammals.

House Bill 5641 and Senate Bill 702 (H 5641, S 702) would regulate the sale of neonicotinoid pesticides. The bills would remove neonic pesticides from regular use on home lawns and gardens and ensure that only trained professionals are able to use them. The state’s Pollinator Working Group recommended limiting public access to toxic pesticides as few people carefully read the label and apply the pesticides correctly. The bill would allow veterinary use of neonics and farmers could continue to use treated seeds.

We have an opportunity to move H 5641 and S 702 out of committee and to the floors of both chambers. And we need your help.

Please reach out to these leaders of the House and Senate and encourage them to allow these bills to move forward for your own health and that of the environment.

House (H 5641)
Speaker Shekarchi. mailto:rep-shekarchi@rilegislature.gov
Leader Blazejewski. mailto:rep-Blazejewski@rilin.state.ri.us
Chair Bennett. mailto:rep-bennett@rilegislature.gov
Bill sponsor,  Rep Kislak.  mailto:rp-kislak@rilegislature.gov

Senate (S 702)
Senate President Ruggerio. sen-ruggerio@rilin.state.ri.us
Chair Dawn Euer. sen-euer@rilegislature.gov
Leader McCaffrey. sen-mccaffrey@rilegislature.gov
Bill sponsor - Senator Miller.  sen-miller@rilegislature.gov

Please use the sample text below to email these legislators and your own state representative and Senator. Use the "Voter Information Center" link at the bottom of this email to get their contact information.

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Legislative Leaders:

My name is __________.  And I live at _________ (give your address)_________ .

I am very concerned about pesticides in the environment and fully support the effort to regulate neonicotinoid pesticides, Bills H 5641, S 702. 

Thank you to Senator Miller and Representative Kislak for introducing these bills. These bills have been heard in committee and I am writing today to encourage you to vote on the bills in committee so they can be heard on the chamber floor.

The amended version of the bill under consideration would remove neonicotinoid pesticides from the use by regular folks like you and me and would ensure that only trained professionals were able to use them. It would also allow farmers, so important to RI, to continue to use treated seeds. 

Thank you for considering this request,

(Your name)

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Please pass this information along to other Rhode Islanders concerned about pesticides. This is a crucial moment to make sure we have a liveable future for all Rhode Islanders.

Thank you for your support. Now, let's get it done!