,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #bigc  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,augu/ #a1 #bjac ,mr4 
,tonko introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,natural      
,res\rces1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee 
on ,transportation & ,infra/ructure1 = a
 p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by !   
,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation ( su*
 provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( !
 committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
au?orize ! ,secret>y ( ,int]ior to c>ry 
out projects & conduct rese>* on wat]   
res\rces 9 ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv]      
,bas91 to e/abli% a ,hudson-,mohawk     
,riv] ,bas9 ,commission1 & = o!r        
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9
 ,act ( #bjac4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress    
f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,! ,hudson-,mohawk 
,riv] ,bas9 toge!r ) ! ,erie ,canal     
connects ! ,great ,lakes to ! ,atlantic 
,ocean & includes ! #ac1djj squ>e mile  
area encompass+ five l>ge sub-bas9s3 !  
,upp] ,hudson ,riv] sub-bas91 ! ,mohawk 

,riv] sub-bas91 ! ,l[] ,hudson ,riv]    
sub-bas91 ! ,passaic ,riv] sub-bas91 & !
 ,r>itan ,riv] sub-bas94  7#b7 ,!       
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 play$ an    
ess5tial role 9 ! bir? ( our ,nation &  
its we/w>d expansion4 ,! wat] ( !       
,hudson-,mohawk ,bas9 is ! ink us$ to   
write ! e>ly ,unit$ ,/ates hi/ory (     
,european settlem5t & ! ,am]ican        
,revolution4 ,! ,bas9's riv]s s]v$ z a  
major transportation corridor connect+ !
 communities along x f ! ,atlantic      
,ocean to ! ,great ,lakes4  7#c7 ,!     
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 includes !  
l>ge/ metropolitan area ( ! c\ntry3 !   
,new ,york-,new ,j]sey metropolitan     
area4 ,?is metropolitan area1 toge!r ) !
 _m communities 9 ! ,upp] ,hudson1      
,mohawk1 & ,l[] ,hudson sub-bas9s1 makes
 ! area "o ( ! mo/ d5sely & heavily     
populat$ riv] bas9s 9 ! c\ntry ) ov]    
#ae1jjj1jjj p4  7#d7 ,! wat] res\rces ( 
! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 are       
functionally int]relat$ & _! uses are   
int]dep5d5t4 ,a s+le entity is ess5tial 

to provide effective communication1     
coord9ation1 & coop]ation among ,f$]al1 
,/ate1 & local gov]nm5ts1 non-gov]nm5tal
 organizations1 & ! private sector = ?is
 area4  7#e7 ,! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey  
,h>bor ,e/u>y is a complex natural h>bor
 at ! junction ( ?ree major wat] bodies1
 ! ,new ,york ,bight1 ! ,hudson ,riv] & 
! ,long ,isl& ,s\nd4 ,9 addition1 x     
receives fre%wat] inputs f ! ,r>itan &  
,passaic ,riv]s4 ,! heal? & productivity
 ( ! ,new ,york ,bight is affect$       
directly by ! quality ( ! fre%wat]      
inputs to ! e/u>y f ! ,hudson1 ,passaic1
 & ,r>itan ,riv]s4  7#f7 ,! headwat]s ( 
! ,hudson orig9ate )9 ! ,adirondack     
,m\nta9s1 a treasur$ nor!a/]n wild]ness 
area1 protect$ "u ! ,new ,york ,/ate    
con/itution s9ce #ahid4 ,! ,hudson's pa?
 s\? ?r\gh ! ,hudson ,riv] ,highl&s1 & !
 ,mohawk's pa? s\? ea/ to its junction )
 ! ,hudson1 provides ! only natural     
break 9 ! ,appala*ian ,m\nta9 *a94  7#g7
 ,! ,mohawk ,valley's abundant natural  
res\rces1 & f]tile floodpla9 soils      

provid$ a ri* end[m5t t fir/ support$ ! 
,mohawk nation & ! ,iroquois ,conf$]acy 
& lat] support$ ,european settlem5t & ! 
developm5t ( indu/ry & comm]ce4  7#h7 ,!
 ,mohawk ,riv] & its wat]%$ dra9        
directly into ! ,hudson ,riv] provid+ ! 
l>ge/ fre%wat] input to ! bracki% wat]  
mix t *>act]izes ! ,hudson ,riv] ,e/u>y 
& supports a biologically ri* &         
productive ecosy/em4  7#i7 ,! ,mohawk   
,riv] is integrat$ ) ! ,erie ,canal     
along mu* ( its *annel4 ,!re=e1 ty+ !   
op]ation ( ! ,canal sy/em to ! heal? ( !
 ,mohawk & ! ,hudson ,riv]s4  7#aj7     
,individuals 9 _m communities ?r\gh\t ! 
,bas9 h exp]i5c$ deva/at+ flood+ t l$ to
 trem5d\s co/s = bus9esses1 ,/ate1 &    
local gov]nm5ts4 ,a holi/ic approa* to  
riv] & /ream monitor+1 updat$ floodpla9 
maps1 & developm5t ( floodpla9 managem5t
 /rategies bas$ ^u improv$ und]/&+ ( !  
,bas9's hydrology w\ld make communities 
saf] & m resi/ant & resili5t to flood   
ev5ts4  7#aa7 ,climate *ange is occurr+ 
&1 z a result1 sea level rise along !   

,unit$ ,/ates ea/]n coa/l9e w increase !
 vuln]ability ( coa/al communities to   
/orm surge & flood+ 9 ! ,new ,york-,new 
,j]sey h>bors & along ! major riv]s 9 ! 
,bas94  7#ab7 ,ea* ( ! subwat]%$s ( !   
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 receives    
support ( programs adm9i/]$ by ,f$]al1  
,/ate1 regional1 & local organizations4 
7#ac7 ,!re has be5 little integration ( 
plann+ & program implem5tation to       
address ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 9 
a holi/ic mann]4  7#ad7 ,new ,york1 ,new
 ,j]sey1 ,v]mont1 ,massa*usetts1 &      
,connecticut h a long hi/ory (          
a*ievem5ts work+ toge!r on res\rce      
managem5t issues ?r\gh _! memb]%ips 9 ! 
,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 ,commission1 !     
,susquehanna ,riv] ,bas9 ,commission1 ! 
,appala*ian ,regional ,commission1 !    
,new ,engl& ,int]/ate ,wat] ,pollution  
,control ,commission1 & ! ,lake ,*ampla9
 ,bas9 ,program4  7#ae7 ,! bas9-wide    
impacts exp]i5c$ z a result ( rec5t     
hurricanes & /orms illu/rate ! ne$ =    
integrat$1 bas9-wide plann+ to address  

wat] managem5t *all5ges & vuln]ability  
to flood+4  7#af7 ,protection &         
re/oration ( wetl&s1 exp&$ use ( gre5   
infra/ructure1 /r5g!n+ ( dams & levees1 
& upgrad+ ( wa/ewat] & wat] treatm5t    
infra/ructure w be necess>y to r$uce !  
impacts ( extreme wea!r ev5ts & ma9ta9  
wat] quality & public heal?4  7#ag7     
,developm5t & implem5tation ( projects  
to control flood+ & improve wat] quality
 mu/ be done ) ! full p>ticipation (    
local communities & citiz5s1 address !  
ne$s !y id5tify1 & be conduct$ 9 a mann]
 t respects private prop]ty & is        
consi/5t ) ! au?orities ( /ate & local  
jurisdictions4  #c4 ,def9itions  7a7    
,hudson-,mohawk riv] bas9 ,! t]m        
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 means ! area
 ( dra9age ( ! ,hudson1 ,mohawk1        
,passaic & ,r>itan ,riv]s & _!          
tribut>ies into ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey
 ,h>bor ,e/u>y4 ,?is includes areas 9   
,new ,york1 ,new ,j]sey1 ,v]mont1       
,massa*usetts1 & ,connecticut4  7b7     
,commission ,! t]m ,commission means !  

,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 ,commission 
e/abli%$ "u section #d4  7c7 ,wat]      
res\rces ,! t]m wat] res\rces means all 
surface wat]s & gr\nd wat]s conta9$ or  
o!rwise orig9at+ )9 ! ,hudson-,mohawk   
,riv] ,bas94  #d4 ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] 
,bas9 ,commission  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!   
,presid5t %all--  7#a7 e/abli% !        
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 ,commission 
9 coop]ation ) ! ,gov]nors ( ! ,/ates   
includ$ 9 ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 
to coord9ate activities be+ und]tak5 by 
! ,/ates1 advisory committees1 local    
gov]nm5ts1 in/itutions ( high]          
education1 & non-gov]nm5tal             
organizations to address environm5tal1  
economic1 & cultural issues associat$ ) 
! managem5t & use ( res\rces 9 !        
,hudson-,mohawk ,wat]%$2 &  7#b7        
designate ! ,secret>y ( ,int]ior to s]ve
 z a memb] ( ! ,commission & z          
coord9ator ( p>ticipation ( relevant    
,f$]al ag5cies 9 ! activities ( !       
,commission4  7b7 ,memb]%ip ,!          
,commission %all include a ,f$]al       

repres5tative designat$ by ! ,presid5t1 
& ! ,gov]nors ( ! #e ,/ates ^: t]ritory 
is encompass$ by ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv]
 ,bas9 & its associat$ gr\nd wat]s3 ,new
 ,york1 ,new ,j]sey1 ,connecticut1      
,massa*usetts1 & ,v]mont4 ,! ,gov]nor ( 
ea* ( ! #e ,/ates %all appo9t an        
alt]nate to act on t ,gov]nor's behalf1 
includ+ att5dance at meet+s ( !         
,commission & ) ! p[] to vote 9 ! abs5ce
 ( ! memb]4  7c7 ,duties ( ! ,commission
 ,! ,commission %all--  7#a7 develop &  
implem5t plans1 policies1 & projects    
relat+ to ! wat] res\rces ( !           
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas92  7#b7 adopt
 & promote uni=m & coord9at$ policies = 
managem5t & cons]vation ( wat] res\rces 
9 ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas92  7#c7  
adopt an annual capital budget1 includ+ 
all projects ! ,commission proposes to  
und]take or cont9ue dur+ ! budget p]iod 
) a /atem5t ( ! e/imat$ co/ ( ea*       
project & ! me?od ( f9anc+ ! project2 & 
7#d7 coord9ate & direct ! developm5t1   
implem5tation1 op]ation1 & f9anc+ ( wat]

 res\rces projects consi/5t ) its plans 
& policies4  #e4 ,compreh5sive plan  7a7
 ,plan developm5t ,n lat] ?an #ah mon?s 
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !  
,commission %all develop & adopt a      
compreh5sive plan = ! developm5t & use (
 wat] res\rces ( ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv]
 ,bas94 ,9 develop+ ! plan ! ,commission
 %all--  7#a7 consult ) ,/ate & ,f$]al  
ag5cies ) jurisdiction ov] wat]         
res\rces1 local gov]nm5ts1              
non-gov]nm5tal organizations1 public    
utilities1 wat] us]s1 & o!r int]e/$     
p>ties2  7#b7 prior to adoption ( ! plan
 or any subsequ5t revision ( ! plan1    
publi% a draft plan & provide           
opportunity = public comm5t2  7#c7      
ensure t ! plan addresses ne$s 9 ea* ( !
 five sub-bas9s2 &  7#d7 p]iodically    
review & revise ! plan4  7b7 ,plan      
cont5ts ,! plan %all address all        
projects & facilities requir$ =         
developm5t1 cons]vation1 use1 managem5t1
 & control ( ! wat] res\rces ( !        
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 to meet     

pres5t & future ne$s4 ,! plan %all--    
7#a7 id5tify wat] res\rce ne$s 9 !      
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 relat$ to   
wat] supply1 wat] quality1 flood+1      
ecosy/ems1 fi%]ies1 en]gy production1   
navigation1 recreation1 agriculture1 &  
economic developm5t & e/abli% goals =   
protection or enhancem5t ( wat] res\rces
 to address ! id5tifi$ ne$s2  7#b7      
inv5tory ! hi/oric & cultural res\rces (
 ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 & id5tify
 projects to provide = cultural         
enri*m5t1 pres]vation ( cultural        
res\rces1 public education ab\t local   
h]itage & hi/orical significance (      
prop]ties1 canals1 & o!r hi/oric sites  
)9 ! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas92  7#c7 
provide a compreh5sive assessm5t ( !    
/atus ( wat] res\rces 9 !               
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 & id5tify   
additional rese>* & in=mation requir$ to
 support managem5t ( wat] res\rces 9 !  
,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas92 &  7#d7    
provide a me*anism to promote           
communication & coord9ation among !     

organizations engag$ 9 wat] res\rce     
managem5t activities to enc\rage        
effici5t use ( sc>ce res\rces1 avoid    
conflicts & inconsi/5cies1 to promote   
consi/5t & fair treatm5t ( all wat]     
us]s1 & to promote collaborative work+  
relation%ips among all entities work+ 9 
! ,hudson-,mohawk ,riv] ,bas94  #f4     
,wat] res\rces program ,! ,commission   
%all adopt a wat] res\rces program on an
 annual basis1 bas$ ^u ! compreh5sive   
plan1 t id5tifies specific projects &   
facilities to be und]tak5 by !          
,commission1 o!r gov]nm5tal & private   
entities1 educational in/itutions1      
non-gov]nm5tal organizations1 &         
individuals dur+ ! imm$iate #e-ye> p]iod
 9 ea* ( ! five sub-bas9s4 ,! wat]      
res\rces program %all include a         
sy/ematic pres5tation = ea* ( ! five    
sub-bas9s (--  7#a7 ! specific ne$s to  
be address$ by ! wat] res\rces program2 
7#b7 ! exi/+ & propos$ projects1 /udies1
 & facilities requir$ to satisfy !      
id5tifi$ ne$s2  7#c7 ! subset ( projects

 & /udies t w be und]tak5 by !          
,commission dur+ su* p]iod2 &  7#d7 !   
budget = ! id5tifi$ projects & /udies4  
#g4 ,sav+s provisions ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act  
%all be con/ru$ to repeal1 modify1 or   
limit ! au?ority (--  7#a7 ! ,f$]al     
,gov]nm5t or ! ,/ate gov]nm5t memb]s ( !
 ,commission to enact legislation or    
en=ce any additional conditions or      
re/rictions )9 _! jurisdictions2 &  7#b7
 local gov]nm5ts to regulate l& use z   
provid$ = by law or regulation4  #h4    
,au?orization ( appropriations  7a7     
,commission ,!re is au?oriz$ to be      
appropriat$ to ! ,commission #ejj1jjj = 
ea* fiscal ye> to c>ry out ! duties ( ! 
,commission4  7b7 ,compreh5sive plan    
,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to ! 
,secret>y ( ,int]ior #be1jjj1jjj = ea* (
 fiscal ye>s #bjae ?r\gh #bjba to c>ry  
out projects consi/5t ) ! compreh5sive  
plan t are id5tifi$ 9 ! annual          
,hudson-,mohawk ,wat] ,res\rces ,program
 adopt$ by ! ,commission 9 accordance ) 
section #f4