Summary#
This bill changes a part of Title 23 of the U.S. Code that supports pollinator-friendly practices along roadsides and highway rights-of-way. It adds nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3)) as eligible participants, requires consultation with the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in a specified planning step, clarifies and narrows tribal consultation to tribes with tribal land within 50 miles of a proposed project, and confirms no extra consultation is required beyond plan development. The bill also raises individual grant maximums and increases the program's authorized annual funding for future fiscal years.
What it means for you#
- More types of groups can run or join roadside pollinator projects: qualified nonprofits are now explicitly eligible alongside State transportation departments, Federal land managers, and tribal governments.
- Plans to use pollinator-friendly practices must include consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in at least one planning step.
- The bill specifies that tribes to be consulted are those with tribal land located 50 miles or less from a proposed project or practice.
- Grant awards and the total authorized program funding are increased, which could allow larger or more projects to get support.
Expenses#
- The maximum award for a single grant is increased from $150,000 to $500,000 (subsection e(2)(B)).
- Authorized annual program funding is changed from $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031 (subsection l(1)).
- No publicly available information on estimated total federal outlays beyond these authorization amounts.
Proponents' View#
No publicly available information.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.