What is the Botany Bill?

Work on the Botany Bill began in early 2015, and on February 14, 2017, Representative Quigley (D-IL) introduced House Resolution 1054, with co-sponsor Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). This legislation is intended to promote botanical research and botanical sciences capacity (including botanical education), generate demand for native plant materials, and authorize related federal activities. This bipartisan legislation allows federal agencies to act with the expertise required to preserve unique American landscapes and emphasizes the importance of protecting native plants and plant ecosystems.
H.R. 1054, "The Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act", promotes and supports native plant research and use by:

Employing and training more botanists

• Authorize the Bureau of Land Management to hire twenty additional Botanical Science Personnel  
• Create a program of educational loan forgiveness for Botanical Sciences Personnel
  

Providing Research Funding

• Develop effective approaches to habitat restoration
• Methods for developing and using locally adapted native plant materials
• Combat invasive, non-native species
  
• Create mitigation strategies for medium and long term environment change
  
• Promoting the recovery of threatened and endangered species

Promoting the native seed industry

• Authorize preference for the use of locally-adapted native plant materials in new federal construction
  
• Use native plants for highway and infrastructure projects 

For more information, read the bill summary, Rep. Quigley's press release, Rep Ros-Lehtinen's press release, or download the full bill. You can also track the bill's progress here. There are currently 23 cosponsors - is your representative one of them?
Find out more on the "How to Help" page!