,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dgij ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #cj1 #bjad ,mr4 ,hastings of ,florida 7for himself and ,mr4 ,denham7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 to encourage and facilitate efforts by ,states and other transportation rights-of-way managers to adopt integrated vegetation management practices1 including enhancing plantings of native forbs and grasses that provide habitats and forage for ,monarch butterflies and other native pollinators and honey bees1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,highways ,bettering the ,economy and ,environment ,pollinator ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the roadside vegetation management practices of both ,state governments and the ,federal ,government aim to secure motorist safety1 reduce the presence of noxious weeds1 and stabilize the soil4 7#b7 ,federal and ,state highway departments are facing severe budget shortfalls4 7#c7 ,native forbs and grasses are less likely to encroach onto roads than invasive species1 such as kudzu4 7#d7 ,integrated vegetation management practices will reduce the cost of maintaining roadside vegetation4 7#e7 ,native forbs and grasses are best adapted to local conditions and thus require less active management1 reducing the need to replant1 weed1 and mow the areas adjacent to the road4 7#f7 ,pollinators1 such as native bees1 honey bees1 birds1 bats1 ,monarch butterflies1 and other butterflies1 are suffering drastic population loss due in part to loss of habitat and forage4 7#g7 ,pollinators are vital for ,american agriculture4 ,responsible for #a out of every #c bites of food we eat1 a diverse pollinator population is necessary for maintaining the diversity of our plant life and food supply4 7#h7 ,studies have shown supporting native forbs and grasses along the roadside can be beneficial to the pollinator population by providing migratory corridors and habitat and forage connectivity and by helping such populations adapt to climate change4 7#i7 ,plantings of noninvasive1 locally appropriate milkweed species can create migratory way stations for the endangered ,monarch butterfly and to facilitate migrations of other pollinators4 7#aj7 ,enhancing pollinator populations on rights-of-way can result in improved pollination services for neighboring lands1 including agriculture and wildlife ecosystems4 7#aa7 ,highway rights-of-way managed by ,states represent #ag million acres of pollinator habitat conservation opportunity1 and similar opportunities and benefits exist on other transportation rights-of-way4 #c4 ,administrative provisions to encourage pollinator habitat and forage on transportation rights-of-way 7a7 ,in general ,section #cai of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7 by striking beauty adjacent and inserting beauty 7including the enhancement of habitat and forage for pollinators7 adjacent2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7c7 ,encouragement of pollinator habitat and forage development and protection on transportation rights-of-,way ,in carrying out any program administered by the ,secretary1 the ,secretary shall1 in conjunction with willing ,states1 as appropriate-- 7#a7 conduct or encourage integrated vegetation management practices on roadsides and other transportation rights-of-way1 including reduced mowing2 7#b7 enhance the development of habitat and forage for ,monarch butterflies1 other native pollinators1 and honey bees through plantings of native forbs and grasses1 including noninvasive1 native milkweed species that can serve as migratory way stations for the endangered ,monarch butterfly and to facilitate migrations of other pollinators4 7#c7 encourage leveraging through partnerships and coordination with stakeholders in support of pollinators and plantings of native forbs and grasses1 such as environmental groups1 research institutions1 other agencies1 businesses1 and community organizations2 and 7#d7 conduct or facilitate research and demonstration projects on the economic and environmental benefits and best practices for integrated vegetation management1 reduced mowing1 and plantings of native forbs and grasses for pollinator habitat1 forage1 and migratory way stations for ,monarch butterflies and other migrating pollinators4 4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,transportation shall transmit to ,congress a report that includes-- 7#a7 an analysis of current programs and authorities available to carry out section #cai7;c7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code2 7#b7 a summary of programs and authorities being used to implement such section2 7#c7 an assessment of actions being taken by willing ,state transportation departments and other managers of transportation rights-of-way to implement integrated vegetation management practices1 reduce mowing1 and enhance habitat and forage for ,monarch butterflies1 other native pollinators1 and honey bees through plantings of native forbs and grasses and migratory way stations for ,monarch butterflies and other migrating pollinators2 and 7#d7 any recommendations for further action4 #d4 ,provision of habitat1 forage1 and migratory way stations for monarch butterflies1 other native pollinators1 and honey bees ,section #cbi7;a77#a7 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting provision of habitat1 forage1 and migratory way stations for ,monarch butterflies1 other native pollinators1 and honey bees1 before and aesthetic enhancement4