WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution led by Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, designating April 2025 as “National Native Plant Month.” The bipartisan resolution was also led by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and recognizes the importance of native plants to environmental conservation and restoration, as well as in supporting a diversity of wildlife. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representative Ed Case (D-HI).
“As home to more than 40% of our country’s endangered and threatened plant species, Hawaii celebrates its unique native biodiversity and understands the importance of these species to our history, culture, and environment, as well as the work that must be done to protect them,” said Senator Hirono. “I am proud that our bipartisan resolution recognizing April as National Native Plant Month has passed in the Senate and I encourage all Americans to learn more about native plants in their own communities.”
In addition to Senators Hirono and Hyde-Smith, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
This bill is endorsed by more than 150 organizations across the country including the Center for Plant Conservation, Izaak Walton League of America, National Audubon Society, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, Native Plant Conservation Campaign, The Garden Club of America, The Herb Society of America, The Nature Conservancy, Wild Ones: Native Plants, Bishop Museum, Kuaaina Ulu Auamo, Laukahi: The Hawai’i Plant Conservation Network, National Tropical Botanical Garden, The Garden Club of Honolulu, The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, and The Sierra Club of Hawaii. The full list of endorsing organizations is available here.
The full text of the resolution is available here.
As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee, Senator Hirono has championed legislation to protect Hawaii’s environment, fish, wildlife, and plants, while also working to support local farmers and agriculture, and speed the transition to clean, renewable energy in Hawaii and across the country. Last month, Senator Hirono urged the Secretary of Interior, Douglas Burgum, to reinstate the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) probationary employees in Hawaii who were hastily fired by the Trump Administration. In February 2025, Senator Hirono also urged newly confirmed U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to immediately take action to resolve looming staffing shortages at the National Park Service. The letter follows President Trump’s hiring freeze, his cancellation of thousands of job offers for seasonal National Park Service employees, and his buyout offers made without clear legal authority. These actions pave the way for a damaging loss of staff at national parks across the nation in the coming summer months and beyond. In December 2024, Senator Hirono announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be awarding $5 million to the State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR) to support forest management and restoration activities across the state.
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