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<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">: Moffet, Erin
<BR><B>Sent</B>: Monday, June 18, 2012 01:52 PM<BR><B>To</B>: Moffet, Erin
<BR><B>Subject</B>: Hastings Recognizes National Pollinator Week
<BR></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNoSpacing><B>June 18, 2012<o:p></o:p></B></P>
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<P class=MsoNoSpacing><B>Contact: Erin Moffet <o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><B>Phone: (202) 225-1313<o:p></o:p></B></P>
<P class=MsoNoSpacing><A title=http://www.alceehastings.house.gov/ href="http://www.alceehastings.house.gov/"><B>www.alceehastings.house.gov</B></A><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoPlainText align=center><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 28pt"><BR>Hastings
Recognizes National Pollinator Week<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(Washington,
DC)</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> Today,
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) made the following statement in
recognition of National Pollinator Week. This year marks its sixth
anniversary, which is celebrated from June 18-24, 2012. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“As the
co-founder of the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus, I am proud to
recognize National Pollinator Week. Seventy-five percent of all flowering
plants rely on animals and insects like butterflies, bats, birds, and most
importantly bees to move pollen from one plant to another and promote
fertilization. Not only do pollinators play a critical role in the
reproductive cycle of plants, but they also provide significant benefits to
all of us. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“Much of the
food consumed every single day in the United States and around the world is a
direct result of insect pollination. Plants grown for food, medicine, and even
certain fabrics require the help of pollinators. In fact, every third bite of
food eaten is made possible by these pollinators, as well as billions of
dollars worth of commodities produced and sold in the U.S. alone.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“Due to a
number of factors, however, pollinators are struggling for survival. The
recent decline in both the health and population of pollinators around the
world is a major threat to not only biodiversity and the ecosystem, but also
our health and well-being. National Pollinator Week is a necessary and
important opportunity to address the urgent decline of pollinator populations
and what must be done to ensure that they are preserved and protected.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10pt" class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Congressman
Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee,
Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Democratic
Chairman of the Florida Delegation.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">Erin M.
Moffet<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">Press
Secretary/Legislative Assistant</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">Congressman Alcee L.
Hastings<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">2353 Rayburn House Office
Building<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">Phone:
202.225.1313<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">Fax:
202.225.1171<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">Email: <A title=mailto:Erin.Moffet@mail.house.gov href="mailto:Erin.Moffet@mail.house.gov"><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Erin.Moffet@mail.house.gov</SPAN></A>
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<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Cambria','serif'; COLOR: black">Website: <A title=http://alceehastings.house.gov/ href="http://alceehastings.house.gov/"><SPAN style="COLOR: black">www.alceehastings.house.gov</SPAN></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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