I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1572 
To promote botanical research and botanical sciences capacity, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 6, 2019 
Mr. QUIGLEY (for himself, Mr. ROONEY of Florida, Mr. SEAN PATRICK 
MALONEY of New York, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Ms. 
MCCOLLUM, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. MCGOV-
ERN, Mr. CASTEN of Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. 
COHEN, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Ms. STEFANIK, Mr. 
TONKO, Mr. COOPER, Mr. KILMER, Mr. MALINOWSKI, Mr. SCHNEIDER, 
Ms. GABBARD, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, and Mr. CASE) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Re-
sources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To promote botanical research and botanical sciences 
capacity, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Botanical Sciences and 
Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Pro-
motion Act’’. 
SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Table of contents. 
Sec. 3. Definitions. 
TITLE I—PROMOTING BOTANICAL RESEARCH AND BOTANICAL 
SCIENCES CAPACITY 
Sec. 101. Department of the Interior botanical research. 
Sec. 102. Staff enhancement. 
TITLE II—GENERATING DEMAND FOR NATIVE PLANT 
MATERIALS 
Sec. 201. Policy for use of locally adapted native plant materials. 
TITLE III—AUTHORIZATION OF FEDERAL NATIVE PLANT 
MATERIALS RELATED ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 301. Interagency plant materials efforts. 
Sec. 302. Bureau of Land Management plant conservation program. 
Sec. 303. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation plant conservation programs. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act, the following terms have the fol-
lowing meanings: 
(1) INVASIVE
PLANT
SPECIES.—The term 
‘‘invasive plant species’’ means a plant species that 
is nonnative with respect to an ecosystem and whose 
introduction into that ecosystem will cause, or is 
likely to cause, economic harm, environmental harm, 
or harm to human, animal, or plant health. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(2) LOCALLY
ADAPTED.—The term ‘‘locally 
adapted’’, with respect to plants, means plants that 
originate from an area that is geographically proxi-
mate to a planting area and that are environ-
mentally adapted to, and likely to succeed in becom-
ing established and persisting within, such area. 
(3) NATIVE PLANT SPECIES.—The term ‘‘native 
plant species’’ means indigenous terrestrial and 
aquatic plant species that evolved naturally in a de-
fined native ecosystem. 
(4) NONNATIVE
PLANT
SPECIES.—The term 
‘‘nonnative plant species’’ means a plant that has 
been introduced by humans to a location outside its 
native or natural range and may, depending on rel-
evant facts and circumstances, include a species in-
troduced from another continent, ecosystem, seed 
zone, or habitat within an ecosystem. 
(5) PLANT MATERIALS.—The term ‘‘plant ma-
terials’’ includes, with respect to a native plant spe-
cies or a nonnative plant species, such a plant or its 
seeds, eggs, spores, or other biological material capa-
ble of propagating that species. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
TITLE 
I—PROMOTING 
BOTAN-
ICAL RESEARCH AND BOTAN-
ICAL SCIENCES CAPACITY 
SEC. 101. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BOTANICAL RE-
SEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, act-
ing through the Bureau of Land Management, United 
States Geological Survey, United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, National Park Service, and such other agencies 
and instrumentalities as the Secretary determines appro-
priate, shall support a robust program of intramural and 
extramural botanical science research as relevant and ap-
propriate to support the Department’s land management 
responsibilities. 
(b) AREAS OF EMPHASIS.—Research conducted pur-
suant to this section shall include a focus on the following 
topics: 
(1) Effective approaches to restoring habitat 
damaged by wildfires that incorporate the use of ap-
propriate plant materials. 
(2) Effective methods for developing and using 
locally adapted native plant materials in land man-
agement activities. 
(3) Effective mitigation strategies for com-
bating invasive plant species. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(4) Mitigation strategies related to the impacts 
of long- and medium-term environmental changes 
such as changes in moisture levels, temperature, 
landscape fragmentation, nonnative animal and 
plant species, and human activity. 
(5) Methods to promote the recovery of threat-
ened and endangered species. 
(c) EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH.—As determined appro-
priate by the Secretary, research conducted under this sec-
tion may be carried out through competitively awarded 
grants or contracts, or cooperative agreements, awarded 
in accordance with all applicable requirements governing 
such activities. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out the purposes of this section, there are authorized to 
be appropriated $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2020, and 
such sums as may be necessary for subsequent fiscal 
years. 
SEC. 102. STAFF ENHANCEMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—For the purpose of improving the 
Department’s land management capabilities, the Secretary 
of the Interior is authorized to augment the expertise of 
the Department of the Interior in the botanical sciences 
by— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(1) hiring additional personnel with expertise in 
the botanical sciences; and 
(2) establishing a loan forgiveness program to 
facilitate the hiring of such personnel. 
(b) AUTHORIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations for such purpose, by not later than 
September 30, 2020, the Secretary shall hire not 
more than 20 full-time Botanical Science Personnel 
to support the Department’s land management re-
sponsibilities. The Secretary shall determine the ap-
propriate placement of such personnel within the ap-
propriate agencies of the Department with major 
land management responsibilities. The Secretary 
may waive any limitation on the number of full-time 
equivalent personnel assigned to the Department 
and its constituent agencies in order to carry out the 
purposes of this section. 
(2) TREATMENT; HIRING
REQUIREMENTS.— 
Personnel hired pursuant to paragraph (1) shall 
be— 
(A) in addition to any positions authorized 
before the date of the enactment of this Act 
and any existing vacancies within the Depart-
ment on such date; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(B) part of the Competitive Service; and 
(C) hired in compliance with all applicable 
provisions of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program to provide educational loan repayment to 
qualifying individuals who agree to a term of em-
ployment with the Department as Botanical Science 
Personnel. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to participate 
in the loan repayment program under this sub-
section, an individual shall— 
(A) either— 
(i) have a degree in botanical sciences; 
(ii) be enrolled in an approved grad-
uate 
training 
program 
in 
botanical 
sciences; or 
(iii) be enrolled as a full-time student 
in an accredited educational institution, 
and in the final year of a course of a study 
or program, offered by such institution and 
approved by the Secretary, leading to a de-
gree in botanical sciences; and 
(B) submit to the Secretary an application 
for a contract described in paragraph (4). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(3) INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED WITH AP-
PLICATION
AND
CONTRACT
FORMS.—In dissemi-
nating application forms and contract forms to indi-
viduals desiring to participate in the loan repayment 
program, the Secretary shall include with such forms 
a fair summary of the rights and liabilities of an in-
dividual whose application is approved (and whose 
contract is accepted). Such information shall be 
written in a manner calculated to be understood by 
the average individual applying to participate in the 
loan repayment program. 
(4) CONTRACTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—An individual becomes 
a participant in the loan repayment program 
only upon the Secretary and the individual en-
tering into a written contract whereby— 
(i) the Secretary agrees to pay on be-
half of the individual loans in accordance 
with paragraph (5), subject to the avail-
ability of appropriated funds; and 
(ii) the individual agrees to— 
(I) accept loan payments on be-
half of the individual; and 
(II) if applicable, maintain enroll-
ment and acceptable academic stand-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
ing in a course of study or training 
described in paragraph (2) and serve 
for a time period equal to 2 years or 
such longer period as the individual 
may agree to as a botanical scientist 
employed by the Department. 
(B) OTHER
TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.— 
Such contracts shall include all other necessary 
and appropriate terms and conditions to clarify 
the rights, obligations, and liabilities of the par-
ties. 
(5) REPAYMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A loan repayment pro-
vided for an individual under a written contract 
under the repayment program authorized by 
this subsection shall consist of payment on be-
half of the individual of the principal, interest, 
and related expenses on government and com-
mercial loans received by the individual regard-
ing the undergraduate or graduate education of 
the individual (or both), which loans were made 
for tuition, other reasonable educational ex-
penses, or reasonable living expenses, as deter-
mined by the Secretary. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(B) AMOUNTS.—For each year of obligated 
service that an individual contracts to serve, the 
Secretary may pay up to $50,000 (plus, begin-
ning with fiscal year 2020, an amount deter-
mined by the Secretary on an annual basis to 
reflect inflation) on behalf of the individual for 
loans described in this paragraph. In making a 
determination of the amount to pay for a year 
of such service by an individual, the Secretary 
may enter into an agreement with the holder of 
any such loan for which payments are made to 
establish a schedule for the making of such pay-
ments. 
(6) EMPLOYMENT
CEILING.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, individuals who have en-
tered into written contracts with the Secretary under 
this section, while undergoing academic or other 
training, shall not be counted against any employ-
ment ceiling affecting the Department. 
(d) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘Botanical Science Personnel’’ means individuals 
with post-secondary education in the field of botany, in-
cluding plant ecologists and individuals with a bachelor’s 
degree in plant biology. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out the purposes of this section, there are authorized to 
be appropriated— 
(1) for fiscal year 2020— 
(A) $3,000,000 for subsection (b); and 
(B) $1,000,000 for subsection (c); and 
(2) for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2020, 
such sums as may be necessary. 
TITLE II—GENERATING DEMAND 
FOR NATIVE PLANT MATERIALS 
SEC. 201. POLICY FOR USE OF LOCALLY ADAPTED NATIVE 
PLANT MATERIALS. 
(a) POLICY.—In undertaking a land management ac-
tivity on Federal lands under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Agriculture or the Department of the Interior, 
including maintenance and restoration in response to deg-
radation caused by human activity or natural events (such 
as fire, flood, or infestation), it is the policy of the United 
States that preference shall be made to the extent prac-
ticable for the use of locally adapted native plant mate-
rials. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, 
and the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the heads 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
of land management agencies of the Department of the 
Interior, shall— 
(1) implement the policy established by sub-
section (a) through appropriate administrative ac-
tions; and 
(2) specifically identify situations in which the 
use of nonnative plant materials may be warranted, 
including situations in which— 
(A) emergency conditions require the pro-
tection of basic resource values; 
(B) an interim, non-persistent measure is 
needed to aid in the reestablishment of native 
plant species; 
(C) native plant materials are not reason-
ably available; or 
(D) the plant community subject to the 
land management activity has been permanently 
altered. 
(c) DISSEMINATION
OF RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR 
OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES WITH SUBSTANTIAL LAND 
USE RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Secretary of Agriculture, 
acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, and the 
Secretary of the Interior, acting through the heads of land 
management agencies of the Department of the Interior, 
shall develop recommended activities for the Departments 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
of Defense, the Department of Transportation, and the 
Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service to under-
take in order to incorporate to the extent practicable the 
use of locally adapted native plant materials in restoration 
and management of public lands and buildings funded by, 
or under the jurisdiction of, such agencies. 
TITLE III—AUTHORIZATION OF 
FEDERAL NATIVE PLANT MA-
TERIALS 
RELATED 
ACTIVI-
TIES 
SEC. 301. INTERAGENCY PLANT MATERIALS EFFORTS. 
(a) ACTIVITIES.—The heads of the agencies shall col-
laborate, as appropriate, regarding land use responsibility 
to undertake the following activities related to native plant 
materials: 
(1) Identify seed needs and ensure the reliable 
availability of genetically appropriate seed. 
(2) Conduct research to develop genetically ap-
propriate seed and to improve technology for seed 
production and ecological restoration. 
(3) Support land managers’ ability to make 
timely and informed seeding decisions for ecological 
restoration. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(4) Efforts to enhance, protect, and restore 
plant materials necessary to support pollinators and 
dispersers. 
(5) Efforts to coordinate activities aimed at 
sustaining and restoring public lands through the 
use of techniques and materials that promote to the 
extent practicable the use of locally adapted native 
plant materials. 
(b) AGENCIES.—For the purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘agencies’’ means the following: 
(1) In the Department of the Interior, the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
(B) The Bureau of Land Management. 
(C) The National Park Service. 
(D) The United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service. 
(E) The United States Geological Survey. 
(2) In the Department of Agriculture, the fol-
lowing: 
(A) The Agricultural Research Service. 
(B) The Forest Service. 
(C) The National Institute of Food and 
Agriculture. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(D) The Natural Resources Conservation 
Service. 
SEC. 302. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT PLANT CON-
SERVATION PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Bureau of Land Management 
is authorized to undertake activities to develop and use 
native plant materials. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The following activities are within 
the scope of this authority: 
(1) Identifying, evaluating, and protecting rare 
plants on public lands. 
(2) Understanding the effects of human activity 
on native plant species and communities on public 
lands. 
(3) Supporting efforts to develop genetically ap-
propriate native plant materials for restoring and 
maintaining habitat for animal and plant species, in-
cluding sage grouse, and monitoring the effective-
ness of such materials. 
(4) Ensuring that the needs of the agency for 
native plant materials are met. 
(5) Developing seed transfer zones and guide-
lines. 
(6) Supporting public-private partnerships to 
catalogue and store plant materials. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS
(7) Coordinating a national network of seed 
storage warehouses. 
(8) Implementing habitat conservation and res-
toration on a landscape scale. 
(9) Supporting public-private efforts, and volun-
teer efforts to support plant conservation. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 
out the purposes of this section, there are authorized to 
be appropriated— 
(1) for fiscal year 2020, $35,000,000; and 
(2) for each fiscal year after fiscal year 2020, 
such sums as may be necessary. 
SEC. 303. NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION 
PLANT CONSERVATION PROGRAMS. 
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation shall— 
(1) ensure that a robust program of activities 
specifically focused on the conservation and protec-
tion of native plants is incorporated into its existing 
programs and activities; and 
(2) provide a report to Congress on its imple-
mentation of this section. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:49 Mar 20, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1572.IH
H1572
pbinns on DSK79D2C42PROD with BILLS