,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #caej ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #f1 #bjbj,ms4 ,collins 7for herself and ,ms4 ,cantwell7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to establish a pilot program for native plant species1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,native ,plant ,species ,pilot ,program ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the ,united ,states has a significant interest in-- 7,a7 preserving the worldwide system of richly varied habitats2 7,b7 protecting native plant biodiversity and the ecosystems that support that biodiversity2 and 7,c7 protecting the quality of life of people in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 native plants are an inseparable part of the natural beauty of the landscape of the ,united ,states1 which must be preserved2 7#c7 the extensive root systems of native plants control erosion1 moderate floods1 filter water to improve water quality1 decrease the amount of water needed for landscape maintenance1 and sequester carbon to combat climate change2 7#d7 native plants provide food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife2 7#e7 native plants supply an important genetic record for future food1 agriculture1 and plant-derived products2 7#f7 native plant communities are important components of cultural landscapes2 7#g7 the use of native plant materials for restoration or enhancement contributes to the preservation of cultural landscapes2 7#h7 the use of native plant species in revegetation efforts after construction activities and adjacent to roadways increases habitat for a variety of pollinators and other native animal species2 7#i7 supporting native plant communities within or adjacent to agricultural areas provides important wildlife habitat that would not otherwise be available2 7#aj7 the use of native plants in landscaping can reduce the need for herbicides and water use2 and 7#aa7 of the #bj1jjj known native plant species in ,north ,america1 it has been estimated that nearly #be to #cj percent are at risk of extinction as a result of factors such as habitat loss1 invasive species1 temperature shifts1 and pesticide use4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,control ,the term control means1 with respect to invasive species1 containing1 suppressing1 or reducing populations of invasive species4 7#b7 ,eradicate ,the term eradicate means1 with respect to invasive species1 removing or destroying an entire population of invasive species4 7#c7 ,invasive species ,the term invasive species means1 with respect to a particular ecosystem1 a nonnative organism1 the introduction of which causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human1 animal1 or plant health4 7#d7 ,locally adapted ,the term locally adapted means1 with respect to plants1 plants that-- 7,a7 originate from an area that is geographically proximate to a planting area2 and 7,b7 are environmentally adapted to and likely to become established and persist in that planting area4 7#e7 ,national ,park ,service region ,the term ,national ,park ,service region means each of the following unified ,interior regions designated by the ,secretary of the ,interior3 7,a7 ,alaska4 7,b7 ,arkansas-,rio ,grande-,texas-,gulf4 7,c7 ,columbia-,pacific ,northwest4 7,d7 ,california-,great ,basin4 7,e7 ,great ,lakes4 7,f7 ,lower ,colorado-,basin4 7,g7 ,mississippi-,basin4 7,h7 ,missouri-,basin4 7,i7 ,north ,atlantic-,appalachian4 7,j7 ,pacific ,islands4 7,k7 ,south ,atlantic-,gulf4 7,l7 ,upper ,colorado-,basin4 7#f7 ,native plant species ,the term native plant species means1 with respect to a particular ecosystem1 a species that1 other than as a result of an introduction1 historically occurred or currently occurs in that ecosystem4 7#g7 ,nonnative or alien ,the term nonnative or alien means1 with respect to a particular ecosystem1 an organism1 including the seeds1 eggs1 spores1 or other biological material of the organism capable of propagating that species1 that occurs outside of the natural range of the organism4 7#h7 ,plant material ,the term plant material means a plant or the seeds1 eggs1 spores1 or other biological material of a plant capable of propagating the species of the plant4 7#i7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,national ,park ,service4 #d4 ,pilot program for native plant species 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a pilot program in #b or more ,national ,park ,service regions to promote the use of native plant materials4 7b7 ,implementation ,in carrying out land management activities on ,federal land under the jurisdiction of the ,secretary1 including maintenance and restoration in response to degradation caused by human activity or natural events 7such as fire1 flood1 or infestation71 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 to the extent practicable1 give preference to the use of locally adapted native plant materials2 7#b7 incorporate efforts to prevent1 control1 or eradicate the spread of invasive species2 and 7#c7 identify situations in which the use of nonnative or alien plant materials may be warranted1 including situations in which-- 7,a7 emergency conditions require the protection of basic resource values2 7,b7 an interim nonpersistent measure is needed to aid in the reestablishment of a native plant species2 7,c7 native plant materials are not reasonably available2 and 7,d7 the plant community subject to a land management activity has been permanently altered4 7c7 ,coordination ,to accelerate the adoption of native plants throughout programs of the ,department of the ,interior1 the ,secretary shall1 in carrying out the pilot program1 coordinate activities with-- 7#a7 the ,national ,seed ,strategy of the ,bureau of ,land ,management2 7#b7 the ,plant ,conservation ,alliance2 and 7#c7 the ,plant ,materials ,centers of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service4 7d7 ,duration ,the authority to carry out the pilot program terminates on the date that is #e years after the date on which the pilot program is established under subsection 7a74 7e7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date on which the authority to carry out the pilot program terminates under subsection 7d71 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report describing the results of the pilot program4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this ,act4 #e4 ,study on cost-effectiveness of using native plant materials in carrying out land management activities on ,federal land 7a7 ,in ,general ,as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall1 consistent with section #d1 conduct a study to review existing data to determine the cost-effectiveness of using native plant materials in land management activities on ,federal land under the jurisdiction of the ,secretary or other ,federal land management agencies4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,natural ,resources of the ,house of ,representatives a report describing the results of the study required under subsection 7a74