,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #biah ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #bj1 #bjai,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,alexander1 ,mr4 ,carper1 and ,mr4 ,rounds7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 to require the ,secretary of ,transportation to establish a program to provide grants to carry out activities to benefit pollinators on roadsides and highway rights-of-way1 including the planting and seeding of native1 locally-appropriate grasses and wildflowers1 including milkweed1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,monarch and ,pollinator ,highway ,act of #bjai or the ,,mph ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway rights-of-way 7a7 ,in general ,chapter #c of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cca4 ,pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway rights-of-way 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a program to provide grants to eligible entities to carry out activities to benefit pollinators on roadsides and highway rights-of-way1 including the planting and seeding of native1 locally-appropriate grasses and wildflowers1 including milkweed4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity eligible to receive a grant under this section is-- 7#a7 a ,state department of transportation2 7#b7 an ,indian tribe2 or 7#c7 a ,federal land management agency4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including a pollinator-friendly practices plan described in subsection 7d74 7d7 ,pollinator-,friendly practices plan 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity shall include in the application under subsection 7c7 a plan that describes the pollinator-friendly practices that the eligible entity has implemented or plans to implement1 including-- 7,a7 practices relating to mowing strategies that promote early successional vegetation and limit disturbance during periods of highest use by target pollinator species on roadsides and highway rights-of-way1 such as-- 7i7 reducing the mowing swath outside of the ,state-designated safety zone2 7ii7 increasing the mowing height2 7iii7 reducing the mowing frequency2 7iv7 refraining from mowing monarch and other pollinator habitat during periods in which monarchs or other pollinators are present2 7v7 use of a flushing bar and cutting at reduced speeds to reduce pollinator deaths due to mowing2 or 7vi7 reducing raking along roadsides and highway rights-of-way2 7,b7 implementation of an integrated vegetation management plan that includes approaches such as mechanical tree and brush removal1 targeted and judicious use of herbicides1 and mowing1 to address weed issues on roadsides and highway rights-of-way2 7,c7 planting or seeding of native1 locally-appropriate grasses and wildflowers1 including milkweed1 on roadsides and highway rights-of-way to enhance pollinator habitat1 including larval host plants2 7,d7 removing nonnative grasses from planting and seeding mixes1 except for use as nurse or cover crops2 or 7,e7 any other pollinator-friendly practices the ,secretary determines to be appropriate4 7#b7 ,coordination ,in developing a plan under paragraph 7#a71 an eligible entity that is a ,state department of transportation or a ,federal land management agency shall coordinate with applicable ,state agencies1 including ,state agencies with jurisdiction over agriculture and fish and wildlife4 7#c7 ,consultation ,in developing a plan under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 an eligible entity that is a ,state department of transportation or a ,federal land management agency shall consult with affected or interested ,indian tribes2 and 7,b7 any eligible entity may consult with nonprofit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 metropolitan planning organizations1 and any other relevant entities4 7e7 ,award of grants 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide a grant to each eligible entity that submits an application under subsection 7c71 including a plan under subsection 7d71 that the ,secretary determines to be satisfactory4 7#b7 ,amount of grants ,the amount of a grant under this section-- 7,a7 shall be based on the number of pollinator-friendly practices the eligible entity has implemented or plans to implement2 and 7,b7 shall not exceed #aej1jjj4 7f7 ,use of funds ,an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds for the implementation1 improvement1 or further development of the plan under subsection 7d74 7g7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of an activity carried out with a grant under this section shall be #ajj percent4 7h7 ,best practices ,the ,secretary shall develop and make available to eligible entities best practices for1 and a priority ranking of1 pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway rights-of-way4 7i7 ,technical assistance ,on request of an eligible entity that receives a grant under this section1 the ,secretary shall provide technical assistance with the implementation1 improvement1 or further development of a plan under subsection 7d74 7j7 ,administrative costs ,for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary may use not more than #b percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the administrative costs of carrying out this section4 7k7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the first grant is provided under this section1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the implementation of the program under this section4 7l7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #e1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbf4 7#b7 ,availability ,amounts made available under this section shall remain available for a period of #c years after the last day of the fiscal year for which the funds are authorized4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the analysis for chapter #c of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cca4 ,pollinator-friendly practices on roadsides and highway rights-of-way4 4