Save the Bees and Make Our Highways Sustainable and Beautiful!

This petition will let our congress know that we support amending title 23.  This change will charge the Department of Transportation to approve a policy to find alternatives to grass along our highways.  This will push towards sustainable plants along the highways.  This will help make our country more sustainable (save water, save on mowing, add beauty to our roads and help our polenating friends).  

Sign this to beautify our highways!  

http://pollinator.org/PDFs/HwysBEEAct_Draft.pdf

More Detail:

Highways BEE Act:  Significant potential exists to achieve both economic savings and conservation benefits on 17 million acres of highway rights-of-way (ROWs).  The Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment Act (Highways BEE Act) directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to use existing authorities, programs and funding in encouraging and facilitating efforts by State DOTs and other transportation ROWs managers to implement integrated vegetation management (IVM), including reduced mowing and plantings of native forbs and grasses.  These actions will both produce economic savings and enhance habitat for pollinators and other mini-fauna wildlife.

·         Click Here for DRAFT text of the legislation.

Group Support Letter:  Lend support to this concept and legislation by signing on to the Group Letter BELOW.

·         The goal of the group letter is to support Congressional sponsors by providing a robust and diverse list of supporting groups, companies and researchers, for reference when the bill is introduced.

Deadline ASAP—by June 20 at latest.

Who Can Sign: 

·         Organizations at all levels (national, state, local).

·         Companies.

·         Researchers, other individuals.

To Be Listed as Signatory:  Click Here (or e-mail tva@pollinator.org):

·         Please indicate how Organization or Company should be listed—

o   Include CEO name and title, if desired.

o   City-state if regional/local organization. 

·         If Individual—city-state and any affiliation.

Forward this Opportunity:  To others across the nation who may be interested.  Spreading the word helps!

Background:

·         Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) will be a lead sponsor, and efforts are underway to build a bipartisan, core list of original cosponsors.

·         It is expected that the Highways BEE Act will be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives during National Pollinator Week (NPW), on Thursday, June 23.

·         This legislation will likely serve as the basis for a possible amendment in the larger transportation reauthorization process (similar to the approach taken with the 2008 Farm Bill pollinator conservation and research provisions).

o   More “ambitious” approaches were considered.  In the current budget climate and Congress, it was felt the targeted approach taken in the bill is the most that could be achieved.

o   If enacted, the hope is that DOT will facilitate and encourage collaborative efforts by State DOTs, with the involvement of other potential partners.

o   Odds are that the transportation bill won’t move soon (latest word is Committee action could occur in July in House), but regardless, the Highways BEE Act will serve as a vehicle to help educate Congress, and as a rallying point for supporting groups until the transportation bill does move.

·         Click Here for additional background.

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

GROUP LETTER IN SUPPORT OF HIGHWAYS BEE ACT

The undersigned support the Highways Bettering the Economy and Environment Act (Highways BEE Act). 

The Highways BEE Act proposes significant economic and conservation benefits that can be achieved through integrated vegetation management (IVM) practices on Federal and state highway right-of-ways (ROWs) managed by State Departments of Transportation (DOTs).  These areas represent about 17 million acres of opportunity where significant reductions in mowing and maintenance can reduce costs for cash-strapped State DOTs. 

Reductions in roadside mowing, combined with enhanced plantings of native forbs and grasses, can provide economic benefits, reduced carbon emissions, and critical habitat for pollinators, ground nesting birds and other small wildlife.  Pollinators, such as bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, are essential to healthy ecosystems and are vital partners in American agriculture.  Pollinators are suffering drastic population loss, due in part to loss of habitat.  In addition, neighboring agricultural lands and wildlife ecosystems will benefit from improved pollination services.

Landscape improvement through native plants has the added benefit of providing resistance to invasive plants, reduced fire danger, and more scenic highways.  Roadside native plantings have the added benefit of being less attractive to mega-fauna, like deer and elk, than fescue and other non-native grasses currently found on most roadsides.  Mega-fauna are the fastest growing cause of costly vehicle accidents.  In addition, neighboring agricultural lands and wildlife ecosystems will benefit from improved pollination services.

This legislation supports and builds on innovative IVM efforts in a growing number of State DOT’s by directing the Secretary of Transportation to use existing authorities, programs and funding to encourage and facilitate efforts by States and other transportation ROWs managers, to adopt IVM practices, including reduced mowing and enhanced native plantings that provide multiple fiscal, safety and aesthetic benefits while also promoting habitat and migratory corridors for pollinators, ground nesting birds and other small wildlife.

ORGANIZATIONS

INDIVIDUALS

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

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

   Van Arsdall & Associates Inc.

   (703) 509-4746

   mailto:tva@pollinator.org or mailto:tom@vanarsdall.com

   Pollinator Partnership

_______________________________________________ Pollinator mailing list Pollinator@lists.sonic.net http://lists.sonic.net/mailman/listinfo/pollinator

Why People Are Signing

Recent Signatures