I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2381 
To amend title 23, United States Code, to encourage and facilitate efforts 
by States and other transportation right-of-way managers to adopt inte-
grated vegetation management practices, including enhancing plantings 
of native forbs and grasses that provide habitats for pollinators, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 24, 2011 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida (for himself, Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois, Mr. BLU-
MENAUER, and Mr. BOSWELL) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend title 23, United States Code, to encourage and 
facilitate efforts by States and other transportation right- 
of-way managers to adopt integrated vegetation manage-
ment practices, including enhancing plantings of native 
forbs and grasses that provide habitats for pollinators, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Highways Bettering 
the Economy and Environment Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The roadside vegetation management prac-
tices 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 vegeta-
tion. 
(5) Native forbs and grasses are best adapted 
to local conditions and thus require less active man-
agement, 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 agri-
culture. Responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of 
food we eat, a diverse pollinator population is nec-
essary for maintaining the diversity of our plant life 
and food supply. 
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(8) Studies have shown supporting native forbs 
and grasses along the roadside can be beneficial to 
the pollinator population by providing migratory cor-
ridors 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 con-
servation opportunity, and similar opportunities and 
benefits exist on other transportation rights-of-way. 
SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS TO ENCOURAGE 
POLLINATOR HABITAT ON TRANSPORTATION 
RIGHTS-OF-WAY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 319 of title 23, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a) by striking ‘‘beauty adja-
cent’’ and inserting ‘‘beauty (including the enhance-
ment 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-WAY.—In carrying out any program adminis-
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tered 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 trans-
portation 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 pol-
linators and plantings of native forbs and grasses, 
such as environmental groups, research institutions, 
other agencies, businesses, and community organiza-
tions; and 
‘‘(4) conduct or facilitate research and dem-
onstration projects on the economic and environ-
mental benefits and best practices for integrated 
vegetation management, reduced mowing, and plant-
ings of native forbs and grasses for pollinator habi-
tat.’’. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall transmit to Congress a report that includes— 
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(1) an analysis of current programs and au-
thorities 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 man-
agers 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. 
SEC. 4. PROVISION OF HABITAT FOR POLLINATORS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 329(a)(1) of title 23, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘provision 
of habitat for pollinators,’’ before ‘‘and aesthetic enhance-
ment’’. 
Æ 
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