[Pollinator] Pollinator Action Request-Sign Group Letter [ORGANIZATIONS & INDIVIDUALS] Supporting Highways BEE Act (H.R. 4790)-Deadline June 16

[Tom Van Arsdall]

Highways BEE Act:  H.R. 4790 was introduced by Reps Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
and Jeff Denham (R-CA) on May 30 and is strongly supported by the Pollinator
Partnership (P2).  Hastings and Denham are co-chairs of the Congressional
Pollinator Protection Caucus (CP2C).  Click Here
<http://pollinator.org/BEEAct.htm>  for Additional Background.  More
information is also provided below the letter.

 

POLLINATOR ACTION REQUEST:  You can help honey bees, monarch butterflies and
other pollinators by signing on to group letter below as
<http://bit.ly/1o0jNM4> ORGANIZATION and/or as  <http://bit.ly/Sp0foo>
INDIVIDUAL.   

 

Deadline ASAP, and by June 16-the first day of National Pollinator Week! 

 

Who Can Sign:  

.         Organizations at all levels and types (national, state, local) 

.         Companies 

.         Researchers, other individuals

 

Forward this Opportunity:  To others who may be interested.  Spreading the
word helps!  Can either forward this e-mail, or include this link with your
personal note:  http://pollinator.org/BEEAct.htm 

 

************************************

 

GROUP LETTER IN SUPPORT OF HIGHWAYS BEE ACT

 

The undersigned support H.R. 4790, the Highways Bettering the Economy and
Environment Pollinator Protection Act (Highways BEE Act).  

 

Pollinators, such as honey bees and native pollinators, birds, bats, and
butterflies, are essential to healthy ecosystems and are vital partners in
American agriculture.  Honey bees, monarch butterflies and other native
pollinators are suffering drastic population losses, due in part to loss of
habitat. 

 

Highway right-of-ways (ROWs) managed by State Departments of Transportation
(State DOTs) represent about 17 million acres of opportunity where
significant economic and conservation/environmental benefits can be achieved
through integrated vegetation management (IVM) practices, that can-

.         Significantly reduce mowing and maintenance costs for State DOTs,
and

.         Help create habitat, forage and migratory corridors that will
contribute to the health of honey bees, monarch butterflies and other native
pollinators, as well as ground nesting birds and other small wildlife.  

Neighboring agricultural lands and wildlife ecosystems will benefit through
improved pollination services.

 

The Highways BEE Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to use existing
authorities, programs and funding to encourage and facilitate IVM and
pollinator habitat efforts by willing State DOTs and other transportation
ROWs managers, building on innovative IVM efforts in a growing number of
State DOTs. 

 

************************************

 

Background:  

.         H.R. 4790 promotes conservation practices on 17 million acres of
highway rights-of-way (ROWs) by encouraging willing State DOTs to reduce
mowing and plant for pollinators, providing improved habitat for
pollinators, ground nesting birds and other small wildlife.  

.         Important to act quickly, as transportation reauthorization
legislation appears to be on a fast track in Congress.  

.         The goal is to get an amendment based on the Highways BEE Act in
that important legislation.

.         This legislation is nearly identical to a bill introduced by Rep
Alcee Hastings in 2011, and widely supported-by 28 national organizations
and business, 175 regional organizations, 46 researchers and over 1,500
individuals.  Regrettably, those good efforts fell short.  We don't want to
fall short in helping pollinators this time!

 

Transmitted on behalf of Laurie Davies Adams, P2 Executive Director, by~

 

Tom

 

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

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

   Cell:  (703) 509-4746

   tva at pollinator.org

 



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