Supporting the designation of April 2026 as "National Native Plant Month".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1229
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-14T18:50:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1229) expresses support for designating April 2026 as National Native Plant Month and highlights the environmental and economic benefits of native plants—species that naturally occur in specific U.S. regions and have co-evolved with local wildlife.
Key Provisions
- Background ("Whereas" clauses): Outlines facts about native plants, including:
- Over 17,000 species in the U.S., such as trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers.
- Their role in clean air, water filtration, soil stability, and supporting wildlife like butterflies, birds, and bees.
- Adaptation to local conditions, aiding environmental conservation and resilience to climate changes.
- Declines due to habitat loss, extreme weather, invasive species, and over 200 species lost since the early 1800s.
- Resolved actions:
- Supports the designation of "National Native Plant Month."
- Recognizes native plants' benefits to U.S. ecosystems and economy.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
None. This is a concurrent resolution (non-binding expression of the House of Representatives' opinion), not a law that amends statutes or requires enforcement.
Potential Impacts
- Minimal direct effects: Symbolic gesture to raise public awareness; no funding, mandates, or penalties.
- On citizens: May encourage gardening with native plants, habitat restoration, and education on biodiversity.
- On government agencies: Could inspire voluntary programs by agencies like the Department of the Interior (e.g., National Park Service) but imposes no obligations.
- No international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Environmental and conservation groups (e.g., native plant societies).
- Wildlife advocates, farmers, gardeners, and landscapers benefiting from sustainable practices.
- General public through increased awareness of ecosystem health.
- Bipartisan sponsors (e.g., Reps. Goodlander, Joyce, Carter, Moylan, Neguse), referred to House Committee on Natural Resources.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Purely symbolic; lacks force of law (does not require presidential approval or Senate concurrence for House-only resolutions).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express views on policy matters; no issues.
- Political: Demonstrates cross-party support for environmental awareness, potentially boosting related initiatives without controversy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Del. Moylan, James C. [R-GU-At Large], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-04-29: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the designation of April 2026 as "National Native Plant Month". — issued 2026-04-29 — PDF (2 pages)