Hi All,

       As you may know, passage of the '07 Farm Bill has been delayed
because
       it is over budget.   Senator Boxer (DCa) is making every effort to
       secure  sustained funding that prioritizes research for honey bees.

       All interested individuals or organizations are encouraged to "sign
on".

       BRIEF BACKGROUND: 
      * While farm bill reauthorization is important, most of the money for
      programs derives through the annual appropriations process, which is
      currently underway for FY09.
      * Sen Barbara Boxer is circulating ATTACHED letter from Senators with
      same  request, urging colleagues to cosign.  
	+ Casey, Stabenow, Biden and Kerry reportedly have already committed
      to sign this letter. 
   	+ Contacts to Senate offices encourage them to sign on appreciated.
      * Coevolution Institute is also sending separate letter to Kohl &
      Bennett.  
  	+ Others are urged to do the same, or include support for this
     provision in any broader comments you may be submitting.
     * Administration's FY09 proposal includes $780,000 increase over
reported
     baseline budget for USDA 'pollinator research' of about $9 million
total,
     mostly for USDA bee labs and honeybee-related research.

     Thanks in advance for your consideration and involvement.
	*****
>
>    BOXER AT AL LETTER:
>
>    Dear Chairman Kohl and Ranking Member Bennett,
>
>    The undersigned urge the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee to
>    allocate  $20 million in Fiscal Year 2009 funding for honeybee and
pollinator
>    research  projects. These funds will help provide sustainable research
and combat
>    immediate and pressing challenges like Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD)
and
>    other factors that threaten both managed honeybees and wild
pollinators.
>
>
>    Honeybees and wild pollinators are essential partners in agriculture
and
>    in healthy ecosystems.  Today, CCD and other threats to the health and
>    population of pollinators in North America could jeopardize the
>    integrity of  our food supply and healthy wildlife ecosystems.  
>    Investments in honeybee and pollinator research at USDA have failed to
>    reflect the seriousness and urgency of threats to pollinators.  The
>    Administration's proposed increase of less than $1 million for FY09
falls
>    far short of the investment needed.  The $20 million request is
>    consistent  with the Senate-passed farm bill, which includes a $100
million
>    authorization over five years for CCD and other pollinator-related
>    research  initiatives.  
>
>     Sincerely,
>
>    ORGANIZATIONS:
>   
>
>
>

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* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
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