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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor="#EBE2C5" lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Director of Public Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <a href="http://www.pollinator.org/"><span style='color:blue'>Pollinator Partnership</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> (703) 509-4746<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <a href="mailto:tva@pollinator.org"><span style='color:blue'>tva@pollinator.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="100%" style='width:100.0%;background:#EBE2C5'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=710 style='width:532.5pt'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr style='height:138.75pt'><td valign=top style='background:#C9C9C9;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:138.75pt'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:1.0pt'><a href="http://alceehastingsforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=340069-42307283"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=710 height=185 id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://alceehastingsforms.house.gov/images/ac_head.jpg"></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=700 style='width:525.0pt;background:white'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=670 style='width:502.5pt'><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'></td><td width=74 colspan=3 style='width:55.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td width=10 style='width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:#ACACAC'>For Immediate Release</span></b><span style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:#ACACAC'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><span style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:#ACACAC'>Contact: Lale Mamaux<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=10 style='width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr><tr><td width=10 style='width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:#ACACAC'>June 17, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=right style='text-align:right'><span style='font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:#ACACAC'> (202) 225-1313<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=10 style='width:7.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr></table></div></td></tr><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:17.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";color:#164B85'>Hastings Statement on National Pollinator Week<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:7.5pt'><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;height:7.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-line-height-alt:7.5pt'> <o:p></o:p></p></td></tr><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellpadding=0 width=700 style='width:525.0pt'><tr><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td><td valign=top style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'>(Washington D.C.)</span></strong><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'> Today, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) made the following statement in recognition of the 7th annual National Pollinator Week, which is celebrated from June 17-23, 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'>“As the co-founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus, I am proud to recognize the 7th annual National Pollinator Week. Our ecosystem is delicate and relies greatly on pollinators such as bees, birds, butterflies, bats and other insects to move pollen and promote fertilization. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'>“Seventy-five percent of all flowering plants rely on the transfer of pollen between flowers for fertilization. Hundreds of plants that are grown for food and medicine rely on pollination, including coffee, potatoes, and many varieties of nuts and fruit. These plants and vegetation contribute to the annual production of tens of billions of dollars worth of commodities in the United States. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'>“Over the past seven years, National Pollinator Week has become an occasion to bring attention to the vital need for pollinators and the threats they face. A recent decline in the population of pollinators worldwide endangers not only our global ecosystem, but also our supply of food and goods. As the number of pollinators begins to improve, it is vital that we do all we can to preserve and protect them in the future.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='text-align:justify'><em><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'>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.</span></em><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=25 style='width:18.75pt;padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt'></td></tr><tr style='height:15.0pt'><td colspan=2 style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:15.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='padding:.75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt;height:15.0pt'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><span style='display:none'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=700 style='width:525.0pt;background:#ABA89F'><tr><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;color:white'>NOTE: Please DO NOT respond to this email as this inbox is unattended. 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