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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1miheEO2luTYQ6E4h2CwGLKdSC9csy4Zm/view?usp=sharing">Group Testimony</a> with 23 national, state and local organizations (listed below) was submitted to Senate Ag Approps on March 30. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks to those who took advantage of this opportunity on the Senate side!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Consider adding your ORGANIZATION to current signatories for the <u>House</u> testimony: Noon, April 13.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Who can sign? National, State and Local Organizations [<i>unfortunately no individuals for this one, please!</i>].<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Go to <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/gbCry74C0OvuOX1j2"><span style='color:#0563C1'>https://goo.gl/forms/gbCry74C0OvuOX1j2</span></a> to sign on.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Group statement pasted below. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This complements and reinforces the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-4FaEl50yRNRq3Qx3v3XVn3ZS9GL6Q-g/view?usp=sharing"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Letter</span></a> sent by CP2C co-chairs Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and 21 other Members to House Ag Approps leadership. That effort was endorsed and supported by P2 and other groups.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>You can also help by spreading the word</i> to other organizations that may be interested.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> *********************<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Dear Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Bishop:</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> The undersigned strongly urge you to provide robust funding in the Fiscal Year 2019 Agricultural Appropriations bill for federal pollinator-related programs. </span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Specifically, please appropriate adequate funding for the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Institutes of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> Pollinators are vital to our nation’s economy and ecosystem, contributing nearly $20 billion to the nation’s economy and supporting one out of every three bites of food we eat. The significant decline in commercial honey bees and native pollinator populations has been well documented. </span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> These USDA agencies are undertaking several extensive and long-term research initiatives and are leading efforts to foster private industry and researcher collaboration and utilize input from stakeholders in ongoing efforts to help develop effective solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Congress has been engaged and supportive on a bipartisan basis on this vital issue, and continued funding support is essential.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'> Thank you for your consideration of this important request.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=336 style='width:3.5in;margin-left:30.6pt;border-collapse:collapse'><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Pollinator Partnership<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>American Beekeeping Federation <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>American Honey Producers Association<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Project Apis m.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>American Society of Landscape Architects<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Apple Creek Bee Association, IL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Audubon Society of RI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund, ND<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Crown Bees, WA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Eureka Springs Pollinator Alliance, AS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Friends of Lower Muskingum River, OH<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Greater Cleveland Beekeepers Association, OH<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>JHK Media, VA<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>National Butterfly Center, TX<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Nebraska Beekeepers Association<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>North Carolina Wildlife Federation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>North West Tennessee Beekeepers Association<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Oakland University, MI<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Portland Metro Beekeepers, OR<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Rural & Agriculture Council of America<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Sandusky River Valley Beekeepers Association, OH<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>Texas Pollinator PowWow<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr><tr style='height:14.5pt'><td width=336 nowrap valign=bottom style='width:3.5in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;height:14.5pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='color:black'>University of Vermont<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red'>ADDITIONAL SIGNATORIES<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'> ****************<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks!<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<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Director of Public Affairs<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"><span style='color:#0563C1'>TVA@pollinator.org</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.pollinator.org/"><span style='color:#0563C1'>Pollinator Partnership</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ThePollinatorPartnership"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=40 height=40 style='width:.4166in;height:.4166in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D3CCEF.FED6DAE0" alt="cid:image001.jpg@01D15E89.826C9660"></span></a><a href="http://twitter.com/Pollinators"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=40 height=40 style='width:.4166in;height:.4166in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D3CCEF.FED6DAE0" alt="cid:image002.jpg@01D15E89.826C9660"></span></a><a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/+PollinatorOrg/about"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=40 height=40 style='width:.4166in;height:.4166in' id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.jpg@01D3CCEF.FED6DAE0" alt="cid:image003.jpg@01D15E89.826C9660"></span></a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/PollinatorPartners"><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=40 height=40 style='width:.4166in;height:.4166in' id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D3CCEF.FED6DAE0" alt="cid:image004.jpg@01D15E89.826C9660"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://pollinator.org/index.html"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=117 height=52 style='width:1.2222in;height:.5416in' id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D3CCEF.FED6DAE0" alt="cid:image005.jpg@01D15E89.826C9660"></span></a><a href="http://pollinator.org/million-pollinator-garden-challenge.htm"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=60 height=60 style='width:.625in;height:.625in' id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image006.jpg@01D3CCEF.FED6DAE0" alt="cid:image006.jpg@01D15E89.826C9660"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
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