For Immediate Release, March 17, 2021 Contact: Congress Introduces Bill to Save Western Monarch Butterflies Western Population Has Declined by 99.9%, Migration Collapsed WASHINGTON— A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation today that would provide $125 million in emergency funds over five years to save the western population of monarch butterflies from extinction. This monarch population is found primarily in Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington, and overwinters on the coast of California. This past winter, only 1,914 monarchs were recorded overwintering on the California coast — the lowest number ever recorded. The Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat Act (MONARCH Act) was introduced today by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Van Hollen (D-M.D.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.), Rodney Davis (R-Illinois), Alcee Hastings (D-Florida), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) and Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.).