2012

• Consensus Letter in Support of Senate Bill 1673, the Safeguarding American Agriculture Act of 2011 (2012) signed by 15 organizations

2011

• Consensus Letter regarding Enforcement of ISPM 15 (2011) signed by 18 organizations
• Consensus Statement in Support of Ongoing Invasive Species Management Programs (2011) signed by 17 organizations
• Consensus Letter on Maintaining Funding for Vital CPHST Programs, (2011) signed by 16 organizations – APHIS’s response letter.
• Consensus Letters to House Committee and  Senate Committee on Farm Bill Actions to Address Forest Pests, (2011) signed by 18 organizations
• Consensus Recommendations on APHIS (House and Senate) and USFS (House and Senate) FY12 appropriations, (2011) signed by 15 and 15 organizations respectively.
• Consensus Letter in support of the Coalition for Urban Ash Tree Conservation’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Statement – posted on the emeraldashborer.info website, (2011) signed by 21 organizations (see also: Coalition for Urban Ash Tree Conservation’s Emerald Ash Borer Management Statement)
• Consensus Letter to USDA APHIS PPQ, (2011) signed by 29 organizations. Letter is in support of the proposed elimination of the current exemption for wood packaging entering the country from Canada. It recommends that APHIS continue to pursue a method to control movement of pests domestically, replacing the patchwork of federal quarantines and state and local regulations.

2010

• Consensus Letter to the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, (2010) signed by 17 organizations. Urges the Obama Administration to implement five cost-effective practical actions to protect our forest resources.
• Consensus Letter asking USDA APHIS to tighten regulations on firewood imported from Mexico and Canada (2010) signed by 18 organizations – APHIS’s response letter.
• Consensus Letter to USDA APHIS PPQ on the proposed Draft Standard Integrated Measures Approach for Plants for Planting in International Trade (2010) signed by 11 organizations
• Consensus Letter to USDA APHIS regarding ANPR comments (2010) signed by 19 organizations – APHIS’s response letter.
• Consensus Recommendations on APHIS (House and Senate) and USFS (House and Senate) FY11 appropriations (2010) signed by 17 and 15 organizations respectively

2009

• Consensus Letter to OMB urging expedited review of APHIS proposal on Q-37 (2009) on behalf of 12 organizations
• Consensus Letter to USDA APHIS’ regarding Quarantine 37 rules and the “Not Authorized Pending Pest Risk Analysis” (NAPPRA) proposed rule (2009) on behalf of 18 organizations
• Consensus Recommendations on FY10 APHIS (House and Senate) and USFS (House and Senate) appropriations (2009) signed by 21 and 18 organizations respectively.
• Consensus Letter to Secretary Vilsack on USDA APHIS’ withdrawal of its interim rule regarding agricultural quarantine inspection user fees (2009) on behalf of 19 organizations.

2008

• Consensus Letter to USDA regarding the domestic spread of wood-related invasive pests by solid wood packaging (2008) signed by 16 organizations
• Consensus Recommendations on FY09 APHIS (House and Senate) and USFS (House and Senate) appropriations (2008) signed by 16 and 14 organizations respectively.
• Recommendations Package to Obama Administration Transition Team (2008) Meeting overview available here, includes letter signed by 21 organizations
• Consensus Letter regarding 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan draft (2008) signed by 13 organizations

2007

• Consensus Recommendations on APHIS and USFS appropriations (2007) signed by 16 and 14 organizations respectively.

*Special note on Consensus Letters: Upon its foundation, the Dialogue facilitated development and advocacy of coordinated policy positions. Policy work included organizing meetings with USDA officials and developing sign-on letters on such topics as funding (appropriations) for USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and USDA Forest Service programs and APHIS rulemakings. In 2012, changes in the source of funds to support Dialogue activities required that the Dialogue stop engaging on policy, but instead focus on science, outreach, and education. Policy advocacy continues under the auspices of the Coalition Against Forest Pests. If you are interested in the work of the Coalition, please contact Faith T. Campbell at phytodoer@aol.com.