Quigley Reintroduces Botanical Sciences & Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and Vice-Chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, reintroduced the Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act to build the botanical science capacity of the federal government and encourage the use of native plants.

"We are living in a time when the work of environmental scientists is becoming increasingly important for the health of our planet and the people, animals, and plants that call it home" said Rep. Quigley. "Botanical science research is an essential element in our fight against climate change, which makes this legislation so important. Native habitats are crucial for wildlife to survive and thrive and are more resilient to natural hazards like extreme weather that climate change has already made more prevalent. Botanic knowledge will also help us protect endangered species, reduce food insecurity, and understand how we can best preserve our environment for future generations."

"Native vegetation is crucial to our success in combating coastal erosion and fighting the spread of invasive species into our ecosystems," said Rep. Rooney. "This legislation will encourage greater use of native plant life and foster scientific research and education."

Botanical research allows scientists and policymakers to develop solutions to fundamental and pressing local and national issues such as food insecurity, ecosystem preservation, biofuel production, habitat restoration, protection of endangered species, and control of invasive species. In the United States, botanical experts help to study, effectively manage, and guide the sustainable use of the nation's vast plant resources.

However, the country is projected to lose nearly half of its botanical expertise in the next decade as experienced scientists retire and are not replaced, leading to a myriad of direct and indirect costs both in dollars and in the loss of critical cultural native landscapes. Both the Bureau of Land Management, which employs—on average—just over 1 botanist per 4 million acres managed, and the US Geological Survey have already reported a deficiency in botanical capacity. Meanwhile, advanced degrees in botany have decreased by 41% in the last decade.

The Botanical Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act aims to build the botanical science capacity of the federal government by supporting the necessary expertise that federal agencies require to counteract the effects of climate change by preserving America's biodiversity and ecosystems.

Specifically, the bill:

• Creates a new program of botanical science research within the Department of the Interior (DOI) to help increase federal botanic expertise and allows DOI to hire new, additional personnel
• Creates a student loan repayment program for botanical scientists to encourage more students to make the decision to enter the field and to support them once they've graduated
• Requires that the Department of the Interior work with the Departments of Agriculture and Defense to establish a plan for the use of locally-adapted, native plant materials in their land management activities
• Requires states to utilize native plant species where possible and practical
• Establishes a new program to support collaborative grants to prevent rare plant species from becoming endangered and to remediate already endangered populations

Last month, Rep. Quigley addressed nearly three hundred Garden Club of America delegates from across the country on issues facing conservation and the environment, including the need to improve botanical science and encourage the use of native plants.