[Pollinator] Farm Bill containing strengthened pollinator protection provisions passes House, expected to become law

[Tom Van Arsdall]

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.  

 

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.

 

Most of the provisions in the amendment survived the conference process.
Attached FYI are excerpts (with pollinator-related provisions highlighted)
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.

 

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:

.         Pollinator protection provisions (research, etc.) enacted in 2008
extended to 2018.

.         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.

.         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.

.         Expanding annual reporting requirements on CCD to include other
health disorders, etc.

.         Strengthened requirement to assess Federal efforts to mitigate
pollinator losses and threats to the U.S. commercial beekeeping industry. 

.         Providing recommendations to Congress regarding how to better
coordinate Federal agency efforts to address the decline of managed honey
bees and native pollinators.

 

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.  

 

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.

 

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.

 

Tom

 

R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Director of Public Policy

   Pollinator Partnership <http://www.pollinator.org/> 

   Cell:  (703) 509-4746

   tva at pollinator.org

 



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