1.This Act may be cited as the
Highways Bettering the Economy and
Environment Act
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)The roadside
vegetation management practices of both State governments and the Federal
Government aim to secure motorist safety, reduce the presence of noxious weeds,
and stabilize the soil.
(2)Federal and State
highway departments are facing severe budget shortfalls.
(3)Native forbs and grasses are less likely to
encroach onto roads than invasive species, such as kudzu.
(4)Integrated
vegetation management practices will reduce the cost of maintaining roadside
vegetation.
(5)Native forbs and grasses are best adapted
to local conditions and thus require less active management, reducing the need
to replant, weed, and mow the areas adjacent to the road.
(6)Pollinators, such
as bees, birds, bats, and butterflies, are suffering drastic population loss,
due in part to loss of habitat.
(7)Pollinators are
vital for American agriculture. Responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food
we eat, a diverse pollinator population is necessary for maintaining the
diversity of our plant life and food supply.
(8)Studies have shown supporting native forbs
and grasses along the roadside can be beneficial to the pollinator population
by providing migratory corridors and habitat connectivity and by helping such
populations adapt to climate change.
(9)Enhancing
pollinator populations on rights-of-way can result in improved pollination
services for neighboring lands, including agriculture and wildlife
ecosystems.
(10)Highway rights-of-way managed by States
represent 17 million acres of pollinator habitat conservation opportunity, and
similar opportunities and benefits exist on other transportation
rights-of-way.
3.Administrative
provisions to encourage pollinator habitat on transportation
rights-of-way
(a)Section 319 of title
23, United States Code, is amended—
(1)in subsection (a)
by striking beauty adjacent
and inserting beauty
(including the enhancement of habitat for pollinators) adjacent
;
and
(2)by adding at the
end the following:
(c)Encouragement of
pollinator habitat development and protection on transportation
rights-of-WayIn carrying out
any program administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall, in conjunction
with the States, as appropriate—
(1)conduct or
encourage integrated vegetation management practices on roadsides and other
transportation rights-of-way, including reduced mowing;
(2)enhance the development of habitat for
pollinators through plantings of native forbs and grasses;
(3)encourage leveraging through partnerships
and coordination with stakeholders in support of pollinators and plantings of
native forbs and grasses, such as environmental groups, research institutions,
other agencies, businesses, and community organizations; and
(4)conduct or
facilitate research and demonstration projects on the economic and
environmental benefits and best practices for integrated vegetation management,
reduced mowing, and plantings of native forbs and grasses for pollinator
habitat.
.
(b)Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall transmit to
Congress a report that includes—
(1)an analysis of
current programs and authorities available to carry out section 319(c) of title
23, United States Code;
(2)a
summary of programs and authorities being used to implement such
section;
(3)an assessment of
actions being taken by State transportation departments and other managers of
transportation rights-of-way to implement integrated vegetation management
practices, reduce mowing, and enhance habitat for pollinators through plantings
of native forbs and grasses, and
(4)any
recommendations for further action.
4.Provision of habitat
for pollinators
(a)Section 329(a)(1) of
title 23, United States Code, is amended by inserting provision of
habitat for pollinators,
before and aesthetic
enhancement
.