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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:63.0pt'><span style='font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>MEDIA RELEASE </span><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><img width=364 height=113 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image005.jpg@01CE6DD5.1BA62CE0" alt="P2 Logo.jpg"></span></b><span style='font-size:36.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>June 20, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Tom Van Arsdall <a href="mailto:tva@pollinator.org">tva@pollinator.org</a> t 703.509.4746<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sunny Boyd <a href="mailto:sun@pollinator.org">sun@pollinator.org</a> t 415.362.1137<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:line id="_x0000_s1026" style='position:absolute;flip:y;z-index:1' from="-63pt,.9pt" to="477pt,1.3pt" /><![endif]--><![if !vml]><span style='mso-ignore:vglayout;position:relative;z-index:1;left:-85px;top:0px;width:722px;height:3px'><img width=722 height=3 src="cid:image003.png@01CE6DD5.1B905AF0" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br style='mso-ignore:vglayout' clear=ALL><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Pollinator-Beneficial Farm Bill Amendment Adopted by House During Pollinator Week<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Would Help Ensure Viability of Honey Bees, Native Pollinators and Other Beneficial Insects</span></i><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>San Francisco, CA-The Pollinator Partnership (P2) applauded passage by a bipartisan vote of 273-149 of a pollinator amendment to the farm bill on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>If enacted into law, the amendment, </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>authored by Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (FL), and carried by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH) on his behalf, </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>would help ensure the viability of honey bees, native pollinators and other beneficial insects. Representatives Rodney Davis (IL) and Jeff Denham (CA) also were lead supporters of the amendment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“We applaud Representatives Hastings, Kaptur, Davis and Denham for their critical leadership in achieving this bipartisan outcome during National Pollinator Week,” said Laurie Davies Adams, P2 Executive Director. “Even though the House failed to pass a farm bill today, members of the House have recognized through their precedent-setting vote on the amendment that pollinators need more help. We will continue to work with concerned citizens, the Congress and the Administration to find ways to provide that assistance.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“It’s simple. No bees, no food,” said Congressman Alcee L. Hastings of Florida. “Our pollinating partners are in trouble, and they need our help. My amendment builds on good efforts to date by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by encouraging interagency cooperation, and directing more attention to honey bee forage needs in USDA conservation programs.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“I greatly appreciate the hard work and leadership involvement of the Pollinator Partnership and other key groups in building bipartisan support for my amendment,” Hastings added. “This is most definitely a positive outcome during National Pollinator Week.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>"I thank the Pollinator Partnership for its leadership on this issue. The Pollinator Partnership and other key groups are essential to building support in Congress for this important amendment, and we saw the results of that on the House floor," said Congresswoman Kaptur of Ohio.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>“As a member of the Pollinator Protection Caucus and an advocate for this research, I was happy to support this bipartisan amendment. We must continue to drive home just how important bees and other pollinators are to getting the nutrition we need, and improving federal coordination to address and promote pollinator health is a great step, said Congressman Rodney Davis of Illinois. </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>“Dr. May Berenbaum is a world class entomologist at the University of Illinois, which is in the 13<sup>th</sup> District. She and her team are doing critical work on this problem. We can support the great work being done by May, and the Pollinator Partnership, by passing strong pollinator protection policies,” Davis added.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>“</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>I was pleased to see the approval of an amendment that improves current and future efforts to support the long-term viability of pollinator bees and other beneficial insects in agriculture. As a Central Valley almond farmer and co-chair of the House Pollinator Caucus, I understand the importance of a healthy apiary industry and its effects on our local agricultural economy,” said Congressman Jeff Denham of California.<span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>P2 collaborated with beekeeping organizations and Hastings in shaping the amendment and building support among key stakeholder groups and in the House. Other groups on record in support of the amendment include: American Honey Producers Association, American Beekeeping Federation, American Farm Bureau, National Farmers Union, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Blue Diamond Growers, Florida Farm Bureau, American Farmland Trust, National Wildlife Federation, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever and Center for Food Safety,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The full text of the Hastings amendment is available at </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:blue'><a href="http://pollinator.org/PDFs/HASTFL3.pdf">http://pollinator.org/PDFs/HASTFL3.pdf</a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Members of the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus (CP2C) played key roles. Co-chairs Hastings and Denham, and CP2C members Kaptur and Davis, were joined by the following caucus members supporting the amendment: Earl Blumenauer (OR), Jim Costa (CA), Rosa DeLauro (CT), Ted Deutch (FL), Bob Goodlatte (VA), Jared Huffman (CA) and Rob Wittman (VA)</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>ABOUT THE POLLINATOR PARTNERSHIP</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Established in 1997, the Pollinator Partnership is the largest 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to the health, protection, and conservation of all pollinating animals. For further information, visit <a href="http://www.pollinator.org">www.pollinator.org</a>!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Amendment Highlights<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Emphasizes the importance of improving managed honey bee forage in USDA conservation programs;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Encourages an inter-agency dialogue about pollinator health that includes appropriate sharing of guidance and technical expertise between USDA, Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Creates a USDA task force on bee health and commercial beekeeping to enhance Federal cooperation relating to preservation of pollinators and the pollination industry; <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Requests regular monitoring and reporting on health and population status of pollinators (including bees, birds, bats, and other species);<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Encourages agencies to utilize the best available peer-reviewed science on environmental and chemical stressors to pollinators, including giving consideration to international efforts addressing pollinator declines; and <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:0in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Encourages assessment of honey bee research laboratories at USDA and a feasibility study of collaborative options.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Director of Public Affairs<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="http://www.pollinator.org/">Pollinator Partnership</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> (703) 509-4746<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="mailto:tva@pollinator.org">tva@pollinator.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.pollinator.org/SHARE.htm"><span style='text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=380 height=207 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image004.jpg@01CE6DD5.1B905AF0" alt="SHARElogoTextFINAL-50%"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>