[Pollinator] Update re Pollinated Farm Bill--Vote Results, P2 Congressional Letter, P2 Media Release

[R. Thomas Van Arsdall]

In a hurry on a number of fronts, but wanted to get word out asap:
1.  House Passed Farm Bill 318-106 yesterday.  Vote results at
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll315.xml 
2.  Senate Just Passed Farm Bill 81-15.  Vote results at
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_110_2.htm 
3.  Both votes far in excess of 2/3 required to sustain anticipated veto.
4.  P2 sent a Letter to Congressional leadership supporting final enactment
while expressing concerns about sodbuster, other provisions that could be
bad news for pollinators/habitat/conservation.
5.  P2 has just issued a Media Release with same message.  P2 supports final
enactment, including veto override if necessary.
6.  A revised analysis of pollinator provisions - merging legislative and
report language on each provision - has been completed.
7.  The Congressional Letter, Media Release and Revised Analysis can be
accessed at http://www.pollinator.org/farm_bill.htm, at the top of the page,
under "Farm Bill Successful!" 
8.  The President is expected to follow through on his promise to veto the
bill, likely sometime next week, setting the stage for override votes.  To
date, the President has vetoed nine bills in 8 years, with only one veto
overridden by Congress.  This will likely be the second.

Yes, there are some provisions in this massive package that could hurt
pollinator efforts, and that P2 and others need to call attention to and
work to change somehow.  But if this Farm Bill becomes law, the significant
pollinator protection provisions can help P2 and allied stakeholder groups
work with USDA and farmers and ranchers to improve pollinator habitat and
practices.  There are a lot of pollinator heroes among you who deserve part
of the credit for making these pollinator provisions a reality.  You know
who you are.  Thank You!

Now let's get back to work for pollinators!

R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Director, Public Affairs, Pollinator
Partnership (P2)
tva at pollinator.org
For More Information, http://www.pollinator.org 

Van Arsdall & Associates
P.O. Box 8512
Fredericksburg, VA  22404-8512
PH:  (540) 785-0949
Cell:  (703) 509-4746
tom at vanarsdall.com