[Nhcoll-l] Fwd: [Beemonitoring] USGS Bee Lab Closure and Letter of Support

[E.M. TuckerLab]

FYI

----------
Erika Tucker, PhD (s*he/her/hers*)
Milwaukee Public Museum <https://www.mpm.edu/> (MPM) | Community Engagement
Projects Manager
Biodiversity Outreach Network <https://www.bon-earth.org/> (BON) |
Associate Director
Projects: iDigBees <http://idigbees.org/>; Terrestrial Parasite Tracker
<https://bit.ly/TPTiDigBio> (TPT); Big-Bee <https://big-bee.net/>; SCAN
<https://scan-bugs.org/>
ORCiD 0000-0002-8822-2315 <https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8822-2315>
*Entomologist & Museum Collection Specialist*

Check it out!
   *Bug.News <http://bug.news/> *(blog)
   iDigBees Resources <https://idigbees.org/resources/>
   TPT Resources & Products
<https://www.idigbio.org/wiki/index.php/Digitizing_collections_to_trace_parasite-host_associations_and_predict_the_spread_of_vector-borne_disease>
   BON Entomological Resources
<https://www.bon-earth.org/products-resources> (supplies, DIY, etc.)
   BugFlow <https://entcollnet.github.io/BugFlow/> (digitization workflows)
   GloBI How-To <https://www.globalbioticinteractions.org/how-to> (help
page)
   SCAN <https://scan-bugs.org/> (Symbiota Collections of Arthropods
Network - arthropod database)
   *Bug Jewelry* <https://www.earthengypsydesigns.com/category/bugs> (made
with real bugs)




---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Sam Droege <droegesam at gmail.com>
Date: Thu, May 8, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Subject: [Beemonitoring] USGS Bee Lab Closure and Letter of Support
To: <beemonitoring at googlegroups.com>


All:

What we feared might happen appears to be happening.  The USGS Bee Lab is
currently defunded under the President's budget for 2026.  Not directly but
the group (Ecosystems Management) funds the bee lab is not being funded in
the proposal and this mirrors that information in the Project 2025 report
that also suggest that group be eliminated.

Many of you have reached out to ask about helping and that is possible!

The advice we have gotten is that you can send a letter of support if you
have benefited from our existence, help, and resources.

See information below

Feel free to distribute.

----

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THE BEE LAB

This is important…and easy.

Also important to send in your information over the next couple of days.

What is Happening:

·       The USGS Bee Lab is at risk of being permanently closed due to cuts
in the 2026 Federal Budget and looming federal RIF’s

·       Specifically, the Ecosystem Mission Area (EMA) budget, which funds
the USGS Bee Lab and the Eastern Ecological Science center has been zeroed
out

·       Thousands of layoffs to hit Interior, National Parks imminently -
Government Executive
<https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2025/05/thousands-layoffs-hit-interior-national-parks-imminently/405145/>

What you can do

·       Write to your representatives, the White House, and the Department
of the Interior that they should restore the funding for the USGS Bee Lab

·       Send digital or physical letters, write emails, post to social
media

What you should be highlighting:

·       Personal anecdotes about how the Bee Lab has impacted you or your
organization

·       How important the research the Bee Lab is conducting is to your
state

Contact Information:

1.      Representatives: Find Your Representative | house.gov
<https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative>

2.      Senators: U.S. Senate: Contacting U.S. Senators
<https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm?Class=1>

3.      White House: Contact Us – The White House
<https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/>

4.      Interior: feedback at ios.doi.gov

Send a copy of the letter to droegesam at gmail.com

Pass this email around.  Post your response to social media

Thanks

sam
Oregon Dawn in Spite of the News

Before I can get to the day’s statistics—so
many stricken, so many dead—I’m summoned
by the birds raising a ruckus outside, crows
and jays in festive outrage, chirr and aria

from the little brown birds, the mournful
dove, the querulous towhee, rusty starlings
in their see-saw mutter, and a woodpecker
flicker hammering the gutter staccato.

On the porch, I’m assaulted by the merciless
scent of trees opening their million flowers
as I inhale the deep elixir of hazel, hawthorn,
maple, and oh those shameless cherry trees.

And just when I’ve almost recovered
my serious moment, I gasp, helpless to see
the full queen moon sidling down
through a haze of blossoms.

         - Kim Stafford

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