This week, the U.S. House of Representatives debates a multiyear surface transportation bill. During the bill's consideration by the full House, Representatives Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) may offer an amendment that will eliminate federal funding for all landscaping and vegetation management projects on the nation's highways and roads.
If adopted, the Hartzler/Hudson amendment could jeopardize the structural and functional integrity of transportation projects. Currently, trees, shrubs, and other plants are often critical components of infrastructure investment. This is because of the tangible value "green infrastructure" brings in terms of economic, human health and well-being, and ecosystem services benefits. Green infrastructure stabilizes soil, filters out air and water pollution, reduces the urban heat island effect, and provide visual and noise barriers, making these projects an essential component of transportation investments.
The amendment would also halt cultivation of pollinator-friendly habitats along the federal rights-of-way, jeopardizing a key opportunity for restoring habitat and pollinator health.
AmericanHort has prepared a message for members to urge their representatives to vote no on the proposed amendment. Click here to view the message and contact your U.S. representative.