FYI - derived from the Entomol list:

A hearing on "Colony Collapse Disorder" is set for March 29, 2007.  Live
audio will be available. See below.

The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic
Agriculture has scheduled a hearing for March 29, 2007 starting at  10:00
AM in 1302 Longworth House Office Building to review colony collapse
disorder (CCD) in honey bee colonies across the United States, and
implications for agriculture and the food we eat and possible  ecosystem
impacts.

Live Audio will be available at the start of the House Ag hearing,  and
can be accessed at _http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html_ 
(http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/audio.html) .

FYI, the CoE has also prepared and submitted a statement for the  record.  
The statement, an executive
summary and media advisory can be accessed at
_http://pollinator.org/press_kit.htm_ (http://pollinator.org/press_kit.htm)  
under "Colony Collapse  Disorder."

A significant part of the statement is focused on broadening the  hearing
record to encompass native pollinator and ecosystem issues-a desire
indicated by Subcommittee staff.

The witness list will include

(1) Dr. May Berenbaum, who chaired a recent National Academy report  on
the "Status of Pollinators: Monitoring and Prevention of their  Decline
in North America;" (2) a panel of researchers; and (3) a panel of
producers and bee keepers.  The witness list will be posted on  the
Committee's web site  at
_http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/schedule.html_ 
(http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/schedule.html)  on  March 28.

Key Hill Staff:
+ Subcommittee Staff Director-Keith  Jones               (202) 225-6238
[log in to unmask]
+ Minority Staff Professional:  Pam  Miller              (202) 225-0029
[log in to unmask]

CoE also alerted ag LA's and other hill staff about the hearing,  again
principally as a way of elevating the pollinator issue.

Feel free to share this information with others who may be  interested.





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