[Pollinator] Farm Bill Pollinator Action Update & Action Request--House, Senate Ag Committees Release Drafts for Markup. Committee Contacts Needed.

[R. Thomas Van Arsdall]

ACTION REQUESTS:
* Contact House Ag Committee Members in Support of Amendments to Benefit
Native and Managed Pollinators, Habitat [reference HR 1709 (research), HR
2913 (habitat, et al)].  
	+ Contacts needed before Committee Markup, scheduled July 17-19.
* Contact Senate Ag Committee Members in Support of Adding Pollinator
Research Provisions [reference S. 1694]; Thank Members for including
pollinator/conservation habitat provisions.
* Partial list of House and Senate Ag Committee members/staff and other
resource materials posted at http://www.pollinator.org/farm_bill.htm.
Additional Congressional contact information may be accessed at
http://thomas.loc.gov.  

BACKGROUND:
* HOUSE Ag Chairman's mark released Friday, July 6, can be accessed at
http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html.  
	+ NO pollinator conservation/habitat language included in
Conservation Title [or anywhere else].
	+ Research and Specialty Crops Titles do include CCD and honey bee
research provisions.  See attached.  
	+ Efforts continuing to seek inclusion of habitat et al provisions
in HR 2913 & research provisions in HR 1709/S. 1694 [S. 1694 broader scope
to include research on habitat, natives, etc.  Rep Hastings staff indicates
support for same]
	+ The Chairman's mark does provide more funding for conservation
than was included in the bill reported by the Subcommittee.
	+ Committee markup scheduled for July 17-19.

* SENATE Ag Discussion Drafts for Conservation & Research Titles just
released, See ATTACHED.  
	+ Conservation Title contains key pollinator & habitat provisions,
See ATTACHED.
	+ Based on quick read, Research Title does NOT include any
pollinator-specific provisions.
	+ Committee staff inviting comments, specific recommendations.
	+ There's still time t make a difference.  Efforts continuing to
seek inclusion of research provisions in S. 1694, plus additional targeted
changes in conservation title.
	+ Committee markup date has not yet been scheduled.

Prospects for Farm Bill reauthorization remain uncertain.  Previous plans to
pass bill in both Senate & House before August recess appear unrealistic at
best.  A number of observers believe Congress may ultimately pass a simple
1-2 year extension.  The current farm bill is scheduled to expire in
October.  Regardless, efforts will continue to "pollinate" the Farm Bill.

R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Public Affairs Representative for Coevolution
Institute/NAPPC
   Van Arsdall & Associates
   13605 McLane Place
   Fredericksburg, VA  22407-2344
   (540) 785-0949
   tom at vanarsdall.com 

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