[Pollinator] ACTION REQUEST, MAY 21 DEADLINE. SUPPORT INTRODUCTION OF POLLINATOR PROTECTION ACT OF 2007 BY (1)COSIGNING GROUP STATEMENT; (2) RECRUITING COSPONSORS; (3) SENDING YOUR OWN LETTER!

Wed May 16 09:45:09 PDT 2007

ACTION REQUEST!!!  Support Introduction of Pollinator Protection Act of 2007
in Senate by-
1.	Cosigning the GROUP STATEMENT OF SUPPORT, provided below.
2.	Urging Other Senators to COSPONSOR Baucus-Chambliss Pollinator Bill.

3.	Sending YOUR OWN LETTER [e-mail] of Thanks & Support to Baucus,
Chambliss.

ACTION DEADLINE:  ASAP, and no later than 5 PM Monday, May 21.  
While Senators can still sign on later, they won't be listed as original
cosponsors.

The pollinator cause is well served if we can help recruit a large number of
cosponsors and provide expressions of support that the Senators may refer to
and consider placing in the Congressional Record.  Thanks in advance for
your involvement.

STAFF CONTACTS:  For cosponsor confirmations or letters of support, contact-
	BAUCUS-Brandon Willis, (202) 224-6350 or
Brandon_willis at baucus.senate.gov 
	CHAMBLISS-Betsy Croker, (202) 224-7443 or
Betsy_croker at agriculture.senate.gov  

NOTE:  We are attaching information and replicating same below in case
problems opening attachments.

GROUP STATEMENT OF SUPPORT:  The group statement attached and below provides
the opportunity for BOTH ORGANIZATIONS and RESEARCHER/OTHER LEADING
INDIVIDUALS to express support for the legislation.  Even if you send your
own letter, we encourage you to sign on.  Feel free to circulate this
opportunity to others who may be interested.

	**********

DEAR SENATOR BAUCUS AND SENATOR CHAMBLISS:

YOUR LEGISLATION UTILIZES EXISTING FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS TO
STRENGTHEN BOTH NATIVE AND MANAGED POLLINATOR HABITAT BY REQUIRING EXISTING
CONSERVATION PROGRAMS TO ACKNOWLEDGE POLLINATOR HABITAT AS A CONSERVATION
RESOURCE AND REWARDING PRODUCERS WHOSE CONSERVATION PRACTICES ARE BENEFICIAL
FOR POLLINATORS. 

POLLINATORS ARE ESSENTIAL PARTNERS IN MUCH OF AGRICULTURE AND IN HEALTHY
ECOSYSTEMS.  STRENGTHENING FARM BILL CONSERVATION, RESEARCH AND OTHER
PROGRAMS IN THE FARM BILL TO BETTER ADDRESS POLLINATOR HABITAT NEEDS AND
BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES REPRESENTS A CRITICAL STEP IN SUSTAINING AND
ENHANCING POLLINATORS AND THEIR HABITAT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING LEADERSHIP ON BEHALF OF POLLINATORS AND
POLLINATOR CONSERVATION. 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED,

ORGANIZATIONS:
Coevolution Institute

RESEARCHERS/OTHER INDIVIDUALS:

	**********

This letter builds on the Group Pollinator Comments for May 1 Conservation
Hearing Record, attached.  That statement and list of signatories can also
be accessed at http://www.pollinator.org/farm_bill.htm.   Thank you ALL for
an excellent response.  Sixteen organizations and nearly 30 individuals
signed on.  Let's top that that with this effort!

LEGISLATION BACKGROUND:  We are pleased to advise you that Senators Max
Baucus (D-MT) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) are taking another step in their
leadership actions on behalf of the pollinator cause by introducing "The
Pollinator Protection Act of 2007" early next week.  While the bill does not
include the full range of improvements CoE and others have been advocating,
the legislation represents a strong next step.  The legislation and its
sponsors are calling attention to pollinator challenges and the need for
conservation action in a high profile way and helping set the stage for
pollinating Farm Bill conservation and other programs during markup.

Brief introductory remarks and an explanation of the changes the bill would
make are attached and pasted in below.  The actual legislation is also
attached

	**********

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS & EXPLANATION:

This bill utilizes existing Farm Bill conservation programs to strengthen
both native and managed pollinator habitat. It does not cost additional
money, or create a new program. It simply requires existing conservation
programs to acknowledge pollinator habitat as a conservation resource and
rewards producers whose conservation practices are beneficial for
pollinators. 

For many reasons the number of commercial honey bee colonies in the United
States has declined from 5.9 million in the 1940s to 4.3 million in 1985 and
to 2.5 million in 1998.  In addition, native pollinator's populations
continue to decline. One of the factors leading to declines in pollinator
populations is habitat degradation and the lack of adequate food sources.
The Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 is aimed at improving habitat and food
sources for pollinators.

Below is the language that currently exists in each conservation program.
The targeted changes proposed in the bill are HIGHLIGHTED in [[DOUBLE
BRACKETS]].

	**********
Pollinator Protection Act of 2007

Section 2-Conservation Reserve Program
SEC 1231(a) In General.-Through the 2007 calendar year, the Secretary shall
formulate and carry out a conservation reserve program.to assist owners and
operators of land specified in subsection (b) to conserve and improve the
soil, water, wildlife and [[POLLINATOR HABITAT]].

AND

SEC 1234(c)(3)(A) ACCEPTANCE OF CONTRACT OFFERS.-In determining the
acceptability of contract offers, the Secretary may-
(A) take into consideration the extent to which the enrollment of the land
that is the subject of the contract offer would improve soil resources,
water quality, wildlife habitat or [[POLLINATOR HABITAT]], or provide other
environmental benefits.

Section 3-Conservation Security Program
SEC. 1238A(a) In General-The Secretary shall establish.and carry out a
conservation security program to assist producers of agricultural operating
in promoting, as is applicable with respect to land to be enrolled in the
program, conservation and improvement of the quality of soil, water, air,
energy, plant, animal life, and [[POLLINATORS]] and any other conservation
purposes, as determined by the Secretary.

AND

Sec 1238A(2)(d)(4) Conservation Practices-Conservation practices that may be
implemented.include
(A)	nutrient management
(B)	integrated pest management
(C)	water conservation
(D)	.etc.
(E)	.etc.
(S) [[POLLINATOR HABITAT IMPROVEMENT]]

Section 4-Environmental Quality Incentives Program
SEC. 1240. PURPOSES
The purposes of the environmental quality incentives program established by
this chapter are to promote agricultural production and environmental
quality as compatible goals, and to optimize environmental benefits, by-
(1).
(2).
(3) Providing flexible assistance to producers to install and maintain
conservation practices that enhance soil, water, related natural resources
(including grazing land and wetland) [[POLLINATORS]], and wildlife while
sustaining production of food and fiber;

AND

SEC 1240B(e) Incentive Payments
(1).
(2) SPECIAL RULE-In determining the amount and rate of incentive payments,
the Secretary may accord great significance to a practice that promotes
residue, nutrient, pest, invasive species, [[POLLINATOR HABITAT]] or air
quality management.

	**********

Feel free to contact me if questions, suggestions.

Bee Ready for National Pollinator Week, June 24-30, 2007! For more info:
www.pollinator.org 

R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Public Affairs Representative for Coevolution
Institute/NAPPC
   Van Arsdall & Associates
   13605 McLane Place
   Fredericksburg, VA  22407-2344
   (540) 785-0949
   tom at vanarsdall.com 

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