§332 Pollinator-friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-way

Summary

The Secretary must set up a grant program to help pollinators on roadsides and highway rights-of-way. Grants pay for things like planting or seeding native, locally suitable grasses and wildflowers (including milkweed) and other actions that help pollinators. Eligible applicants are State departments of transportation, Indian tribes, and Federal land management agencies. To get a grant, an applicant must send an application with a plan that explains the pollinator-friendly practices it has done or will do. The plan should cover things like changed mowing methods and timing, integrated vegetation management, planting native species and removing nonnative grasses, staff training, and any other Secretary-approved practices. State applicants and Federal land managers must coordinate with relevant State agencies, and applicants must consult tribes and may consult nonprofits, colleges, metropolitan planning organizations, and others. The Secretary will give a grant to each eligible applicant whose application and plan are satisfactory. Grant size depends on how many practices are planned or carried out but cannot be more than $150,000. Grant funds must be used to carry out or improve the plan. The Federal share is 100 percent. The Secretary will publish best practices and priorities and will give technical help on request. Up to 2 percent of the funds each year may be used for administration. The Secretary must report to two Congressional committees within 1 year after the first grant is given. Congress authorized $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, and amounts made available under this section shall remain available for a period of 3 years after the last day of the fiscal year for which the funds are authorized.