<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph
{mso-style-priority:34;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:0in;
margin-left:.5in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
..MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:838889038;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:-244699954 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:1060321207;
mso-list-type:hybrid;
mso-list-template-ids:874280936 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:none;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
font-family:Symbol;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>As you may recall, significant pollinator amendment supported by P2, building on the first-ever pollinator conservation and research provisions permanently enacted in the 2008 farm bill, was adopted on House floor last summer on strong bipartisan vote, during Pollinator Week. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The conference report overcame the most serious obstacle to final enactment when the House passed the conference report today, by a 251-166 vote. It is anticipated that the Senate will take final action next week, and the President is expected to sign the bill into law.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Most of the provisions in the amendment survived the conference process. Attached FYI are excerpts (with <span style='background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow'>pollinator-related provisions highlighted</span>) from the conference report [legislative language] and the Statement of Managers for the Research Title (VII), which specifically spoke to the intent of the conferees on pollinator protection.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>While the Statement of Managers, is an excellent read, the legislative provisions are a bit hard to follow, as the managers integrated the pollinator protection provisions into existing law. In terms of the legislative provisions, based on a quick read:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Pollinator protection provisions (research, etc.) enacted in 2008 extended to 2018.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Term ‘honey bees’ added to conservation provisions for native and managed pollinators placed in current law in 2008 [actually on p. 287 (conservation title, II) of conference report, NOT in the attachment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>USDA, in consultation with Interior and EPA, to publish guidance on enhancing long term pollinator health and long term viability of pollinators, including allowing managed honey bees on Forest Service lands, and planting and maintaining forage for natives and managed honey bees on Forest Service lands.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Expanding annual reporting requirements on CCD to include other health disorders, etc.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Strengthened requirement to assess Federal efforts to mitigate pollinator losses and threats to the U.S. commercial beekeeping industry. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:Symbol'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>·<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]>Providing recommendations to Congress regarding how to better coordinate Federal agency efforts to address the decline of managed honey bees and native pollinators.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The following unfortunately were not included in the farm bill conference: (1) Provision Directing the Secretary to Establish a Task Force on Bee Health and Commercial Beekeeping, and (2) Provision Encouraging the Secretary to Conduct a Pollinator Research Lab Feasibility Study. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Elsewhere in 900-page bill, the Conservation Title reauthorizes programs (and provides mandatory funding for some) that are critical to helping farmers and ranchers implement voluntary conservation measures including habitat and forage for native and managed [honey bees] pollinators. P2 participated in group efforts in support of these programs.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Looking ahead, P2 will be working to realize the potential of the strengthened pollinator protection provisions during implementation of the farm bill by USDA, and will continue to explore other ways to enhance federal agency coordination and collaboration and engagement with key stakeholders, such as was envisioned through the proposed Task Force.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Tom<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Director of Public Policy<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> Cell: (703) 509-4746<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <a href="tva@pollinator.org">tva@pollinator.org</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div>
<br /><br />
<hr style='border:none; color:#909090; background-color:#B0B0B0; height: 1px; width: 99%;' />
<table style='border-collapse:collapse;border:none;'>
<tr>
<td style='border:none;padding:0px 15px 0px 8px'>
<a href="http://www.avast.com/">
<img border=0 src="http://static.avast.com/emails/avast-mail-stamp.png" />
</a>
</td>
<td>
<p style='color:#3d4d5a; font-family:"Calibri","Verdana","Arial","Helvetica"; font-size:12pt;'>
This email is free from viruses and malware because <a href="http://www.avast.com/">avast! Antivirus</a> protection is active.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<br />
</body></html>