[Pollinator] Urgent Action Needed TODAY to Oppose Amendment to House Transportation Bill that would eliminate funding for vegetation projects-VOTE is TODAY!

[Tom Van Arsdall]

You can help by clicking on http://advocate.asla.org/app/write-a-letter?3
<http://advocate.asla.org/app/write-a-letter?3&engagementId=141976>
&engagementId=141976 to send an instant message to YOUR Congressman opposing
the Hartzler amendment.  

.         Thanks to those of you who took action earlier, by signing the
group letter of organizations and businesses and/or sending a message to
your Representative.  Please take action one more time!  

.         Again, P2 appreciates our partner, the American Society of
Landscape Architects (ASLA), for sharing their online capability.

 

THREAT:  An amendment offered to the House Transportation Reauthorization
legislation (H.R. 3763) offered on the House floor last night by Rep. Vicky
Hartzler (MO) would eliminate funding for all vegetation management projects
for federal highways and other rights-of-way.  If adopted, this provision
would strip funding that could be used by States to improve pollinator
habitat on rights-of-way.  The vote on the amendment will occur today.

 

Background:

.         A pollinator habitat provision based on the BEE Highways Act
<http://www.pollinator.org/BEEAct.htm>  has been included in Transportation
Reauthorization legislation with bipartisan support in both the Senate and
House!  After 5 years of trying, Congress is nearly to the finish line!  

.         The pollinator roadsides provision in both bills is based on H.R.
2738, the Highways BEE Act <http://www.pollinator.org/BEEAct.htm> , which
was introduced prior to 2015 National Pollinator Week by Denham and Alcee L.
Hastings (D-FL), co-chairs of the Congressional Pollinator Protection Caucus
(CP2C). 

.         The provision directs Secretary of Transportation to use existing
authorities, programs and funding to assist IVM and pollinator habitat
efforts by willing State DOT's AND adds eligibility for pollinator habitat
to a key eligibility account. 

.         Over 250 national, regional, and local organizations and 2,800
American scientists and individuals from all walks of life across the nation
signed a petition in support of such legislation. For more information, go
to http://www.pollinator.org/BEEAct.htm.

.         The Hartzler amendment would eliminate funding that could be used
by States for vegetation management that could improve pollinator habitat
and provide other important benefits.

 

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

 



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