,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #fdd  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #ac1 #bjac   
,mr4 ,c>ney 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,&rews1    
,mr4 ,c>twright1 ,mr4 ,d5t1 ,mr4        
,fitzpatrick1 ,mr4 ,gibson1 ,mr4 ,holt1 
,mr4 ,lo,biondo1 ,mr4 ,meehan1 ,mr4     
,runyan1 & ,ms4 ,s*w>tz7 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      
direct ! ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior to      
e/abli% a program to build on & help    
coord9ate fund+ = re/oration &          
protection ef=ts ( ! #d-,/ate ,delaw>e  
,riv] ,bas9 region1 & = o!r purposes4   
#a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z 
! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 ,cons]vation ,act
 ( #bjac4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t--
  7#a7 ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 is a      

national treasure ( great cultural1     
environm5tal1 & ecological importance2  
7#b7 ! ,bas9 conta9s ov] #ab1ejj squ>e  
miles ( l& 9 ! ,/ates ( ,delaw>e1 ,new  
,j]sey1 ,new ,york1 & ,p5nsylvania1     
includ+ ne>ly #hjj squ>e miles ( bay & m
 ?an #b1jjj tribut>y riv]s & /reams2    
7#c7 ! ,bas9 is home to m ?an #h1jjj1jjj
 p :o dep5d on ! ,delaw>e ,riv] & !     
,delaw>e ,bay z an economic eng9e1 a    
place ( recreation1 & a vital habitat = 
fi% & wildlife2  7#d7 ! ,bas9 provides  
clean dr9k+ wat] to m ?an #ae1jjj1jjj p1
 includ+ ,new ,york ,city1 :i* relies on
 ! ,bas9 = approximately half ( ! dr9k+ 
wat] supply ( ! city1 & ,philadelphia1  
^: mo/ significant ?reat to ! dr9k+ wat]
 supply ( ! city is =e/ cle>+ 9 ! ,upp] 
,bas91 accord+ to a /udy conduct$ by !  
,philadelphia ,wat] ,dep>tm5t2  7#e7    
almo/ #ahj species ( fi% & wildlife are 
consid]$ special /atus species 9 ! ,bas9
 due to habitat loss & degradation1     
p>ticul>ly /urgeon1 ea/]n oy/]1 & r$    
knots1 :i* h be5 id5tifi$ z unique      

species 9 ne$ ( habitat improvem5t2     
7#f7 ! ,bas9 provides habitat = ov] #bjj
 resid5t & migrant fi% species1 includes
 significant recreational fi%]ies1 & is 
a prolific s\rce ( ea/]n oy/]1 blue     
crab1 & ! l>ge/ population ( ! ,am]ican 
horse%oe crab2  7#g7 ! annual value (   
comm]cial ,ea/]n oy/] l&+s = ! ,delaw>e 
,e/u>y is #c1gjj1jjj p] ye> 9 #bjaj     
doll>s1 mak+ x ! f\r?-mo/ lucrative     
fi%]y 9 ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 wat]%$1 &
 oy/] populations are reb\nd+ despite _m
 ye>s ( bel[-av]age biological          
recruitm5t due1 9 "p1 to pollution &    
disease2  7#h7 ! ,delaw>e ,bay has !    
second l>ge/ conc5tration ( %orebirds 9 
,nor? ,am]ica & is designat$ z #a ( ! #d
 mo/ important %orebird migration sites 
9 ! _w2  7#i7 ! ,bas91 #ej p]c5t ( :i*  
is =e/$1 also has #a1jjj1jjj acres (    
wetl&1 m ?an #abf1jjj acres ( :i* are   
recogniz$ z int]nationally important1   
result+ 9 a l&scape t provides ess5tial 
ecosy/em s]vices1 includ+ recreation1   
comm]cial1 & wat] quality b5efits2      

7#aj7 mu* ( ! rema9+ exempl>y natural   
l&scape 9 ! ,bas9 is vuln]able to fur!r 
degradation1 z ! ,bas9 ga9s             
approximately #ad squ>e miles ( develop$
 l& annually1 & ) new developm5t1 urban 
wat]%$s are increas+ly cov]$ by imp]vi\s
 surfaces1 amplify+ ! quantity ( pollut$
 run(f into riv]s & /reams2  7#aa7 !    
,delaw>e ,riv] is ! longe/ undamm$ riv] 
ea/ ( ! ,mississippi1 & a critical      
compon5t ( ! ,national ,wild & ,sc5ic   
,riv]s ,sy/em 9 ! ,nor!a/2  7#ab7       
managem5t ( wat] volume 9 ! ,bas9 is    
critical to flood mitigation & habitat =
 fi% & wildlife1 & foll[+ #c major      
floods along ! ,delaw>e ,riv] s9ce      
#bjjd1 ! ,gov]nors ( ! ,/ates (         
,delaw>e1 ,new ,j]sey1 ,new ,york1 &    
,p5nsylvania h call$ = natural flood    
damage r$uction measures to combat !    
problem1 includ+ re/or+ ! function (    
rip>ian corridors2  7#ac7 ! ,delaw>e    
,riv] ,port ,complex 7includ+ dock+     
facilities 9 ! ,/ates ( ,delaw>e1 ,new  
,j]sey1 & ,p5nsylvania7 is "o ( ! l>ge/ 

fre%wat] port 9 ! _w1 ! ,port (         
,philadelphia h&les ! l>ge/ volume (    
int]national tonnage & #gj p]c5t ( ! oil
 %ipp$ to ! ,ea/ ,coa/1 & ! ,port (     
,wilm+ton1 a full-s]vice deepwat] port &
 m>9e t]m9al1 is ! busie/ t]m9al on !   
,delaw>e ,riv]1 h&l+ m ?an #djj vessels 
p] ye> ) an annual import_/export c>go  
tonnage ( m ?an #d1jjj1jjj tons2  7#ad7 
! ,delaw>e ,e/u>y1 :]e fre%wat] f !     
,delaw>e ,riv] mixes ) saltwat] f !     
,atlantic ,ocean1 is #a ( ! l>ge/ & mo/ 
complex ( ! #bh e/u>ies 9 ! ,national   
,e/u>y ,program1 & ! ,p>tn]%ip = !      
,delaw>e ,e/u>y works to improve !      
environm5tal heal? ( ! ,delaw>e ,e/u>y2 
7#ae7 ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 ,commission
 is a ,f$]al-int]/ate compact gov]nm5t  
ag5cy *>g$ ) ov]see+ a unifi$ approa* to
 manag+ ! riv] sy/em & implem5t+        
important wat] res\rces managem5t       
projects & activities ?r\gh\t ! ,bas9 t 
are 9 ! national int]e/2  7#af7         
re/oration activities 9 ! ,bas9 are     
support$ ?r\gh sev]al ,f$]al & ,/ate    

ag5cy programs1 & fund+ = ^? important  
programs %\ld cont9ue & complem5t !     
e/abli%m5t ( ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9     
,re/oration ,program1 :i* is int5d$ to  
build on & help coord9ate re/oration &  
protection fund+ me*anisms at ! ,f$]al1 
,/ate1 regional1 & local levels2 &      
7#ag7 ! exi/+ & ongo+ volunt>y          
cons]vation ef=ts 9 ! ,delaw>e ,riv]    
,bas9 necessitate improv$ effici5cy &   
co/-effectiv5ess1 z well z increas$     
private-sector inve/m5ts & coord9ation (
 ,f$]al & non-,f$]al res\rces4  #c4     
,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3  7#a7 ,bas9 ,! 
t]m ,bas9 means ! #d-,/ate ,delaw>e     
,bas9 region1 includ+ all ( ,delaw>e    
,bay & portions ( ! ,/ates ( ,delaw>e1  
,new ,j]sey1 ,new ,york1 & ,p5nsylvania 
locat$ 9 ! ,delaw>e ,riv] wat]%$4  7#b7 
,bas9 ,/ate ,! t]m ,bas9 ,/ate means ea*
 ( ! ,/ates ( ,delaw>e1 ,new ,j]sey1    
,new ,york1 & ,p5nsylvania4  7#c7       
,director ,! t]m ,director means !      
,director ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% &      
,wildlife ,s]vice4  7#d7 ,f\ndation ,!  

t]m ,f\ndation means ! ,national ,fi% & 
,wildlife ,f\ndation1 a congressionally 
*>t]$ f\ndation e/abli%$ by section #b (
 ! ,national ,fi% & ,wildlife ,f\ndation
 ,e/abli%m5t ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja74
  7#e7 ,grant program ,! t]m grant      
program means ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9    
re/oration grant program e/abli%$ "u    
section #e4  7#f7 ,program ,! t]m       
program means ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9    
re/oration program e/abli%$ "u section  
#d4  7#g7 ,re/oration & protection ,!   
t]m re/oration & protection means !     
cons]vation1 protection1 & enhancem5t ( 
fi% & wildlife1 z well z ! habitats (   
fi% & wildlife4  7#h7 ,secret>y ,! t]m  
,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( !         
,int]ior1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,director4  7#i7 
,s]vice ,! t]m ,s]vice means ! ,unit$   
,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice4  #d4   
,program e/abli%m5t  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n 
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date (        
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all   
e/abli% a program to be kn[n z !        
,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 re/oration program4

  7b7 ,duties ,9 c>ry+ out ! program1 ! 
,secret>y %all--  7#a7 draw on exi/+ &  
new managem5t plans = ! ,bas91 or       
portions ( ! ,bas91 & "w 9 consultation 
) applicable managem5t entities1 includ+
 repres5tatives ( ! ,p>tn]%ip = !       
,delaw>e ,e/u>y1 ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 
,commission1 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 & o!r  
,/ate & local gov]nm5ts1 & regional &   
nonpr(it organizations1 z appropriate1  
to id5tify1 prioritize1 & implem5t      
re/oration & protection activities )9 ! 
,bas92  7#b7 adopt a bas9-wide /rategy  
t--  7,a7 supports ! implem5tation ( a  
%>$ set ( sci5ce-bas$ re/oration &      
protection activities develop$ 9        
accordance ) p>agraph 7#a72  7,b7 t>gets
 co/-effective cons]vation projects2    
7,c7 supports measurable cons]vation    
ef=ts2 &  7,d7 maximizes cons]vation    
outcomes ) no net ga9 ( ,f$]al full-"t  
equival5t employees2  7#c7 e/abli% !    
grant program 9 accordance ) section #e2
 &  7#d7 provide = te*nical assi/ance 9 
accordance ) ?is ,act4  7c7 ,coord9ation

 ,9 e/abli%+ ! program1 ! ,secret>y %all
 consult1 z appropriate1 )--  7#a7 !    
heads ( ,f$]al ag5cies1 includ+--  7,a7 
! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,environm5tal        
,protection ,ag5cy2  7,b7 ! ,adm9i/rator
 ( ! ,national ,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic   
,adm9i/ration2  7,c7 ! ,*ief ( !        
,natural ,res\rce ,cons]vation ,s]vice2 
7,d7 ! ,*ief ( ,eng9e]s ( ! ,corps (    
,eng9e]s2 &  7,e7 ! head ( any o!r      
applicable ag5cy2  7#b7 ! ,gov]nors ( ! 
,bas9 ,/ates2  7#c7 ! ,p>tn]%ip = !     
,delaw>e ,e/u>y2  7#d7 ! ,delaw>e ,riv] 
,bas9 ,commission2  7#e7 fi% & wildlife 
jo9t v5ture p>tn]%ips2 &  7#f7 o!r      
public ag5cies & organizations )        
au?ority = ! plann+ & implem5tation (   
cons]vation /rategies 9 ! ,bas94  7d7   
,purposes ,! purposes ( ! program       
include--  7#a7 coord9at+ re/oration &  
protection activities among ,f$]al1     
,/ate1 local1 & regional entities &     
cons]vation p>tn]s ?r\gh\t ! ,bas92     
7#b7 c>ry+ out coord9at$ re/oration &   
protection activities ?r\gh\t ! ,bas9 & 

,bas9 ,/ates--  7,a7 to su/a9 & enhance 
fi% & wildlife habitat re/oration &     
protection activities2  7,b7 to improve 
& ma9ta9 wat] quality to support fi% &  
wildlife1 z well z ! habitats ( fi% &   
wildlife2  7,c7 to su/a9 & enhance wat] 
managem5t & flood damage mitigation     
improvem5ts to b5efit fi% & wildlife    
habitat2  7,d7 to improve opportunities 
= public access & recreation 9 ! ,bas92 
7,e7 to enc\rage environm5tally s5sitive
 l& use plann+ & developm5t2  7,f7 to   
increase ! capacity to implem5t         
coord9at$ re/oration & protection       
activities 9 ! ,bas9 by conduct+ public 
outrea* & education & promot+ citiz5    
involvem5t2 &  7,g7 to increase         
sci5tific capacity to support ! plann+1 
monitor+1 & rese>* activities necess>y  
to c>ry out coord9at$ re/oration &      
protection activities2 &  7#c7 provid+  
competitive grants = te*nical assi/ance 
to c>ry out re/oration & protection     
activities 9 ! ,bas91 ) priority giv5 to
 activities ) multiple b5efits1 z       

describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b74  #e4 ,grants &
 assi/ance  7a7 ,delaw>e riv] bas9      
re/oration program ,to ! ext5t t funds  
are available to c>ry out ?is section1 !
 ,secret>y %all e/abli% a grant program 
to be kn[n z ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9     
re/oration grant program to provide     
competitive mat*+ grants ( v>y+ am\nts  
to ,/ate & local gov]nm5ts1 nonpr(it    
organizations1 community organizations1 
in/itutions ( high] education1 & o!r    
eligible entities to c>ry out activities
 describ$ 9 section #d7;d74  7b7        
,crit]ia ,! ,secret>y1 9 consultation ) 
! organizations describ$ 9 section      
#d7;c71 %all develop crit]ia = ! grant  
program to help ensure t activities     
fund$ "u ?is section accompli% #a or m (
 ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,re/oration or         
protection ( fi% & wildlife & ! habitats
 ( fi% & wildlife4  7#b7 ,improvem5t or 
protection ( wat] quality by r$uc+      
pollutants & re/or+ headwat] areas &    
dr9k+ wat] bas9s4  7#c7 ,improvem5t ( ! 
managem5t ( wat] volume & mitigation (  

flood damage to support ! ecological    
ne$s ( fi% & wildlife & ! habitats ( fi%
 & wildlife4  7#d7 ,inclusion ( priority
 ne$s or actions id5tifi$ 9 ! bas9-wide 
/rategy adopt$ "u section #d7;b77#b74   
7#e7 ,inclusion ( re/oration &          
protection activities ) multiple b5efits
 9 ! ,bas91 includ+ habitat1 wat]       
quality1 & flood damage mitigation4  7c7
 ,co/ %>+  7#a7 ,f$]al %>e ,! ,f$]al %>e
 ( ! co/ ( a project fund$ "u ! grant   
program %all n exce$ #ej p]c5t ( ! total
 co/ ( ! activity1 z det]m9$ by !       
,secret>y4  7#b7 ,non-,f$]al %>e ,!     
non-,f$]al %>e ( ! co/ ( a project fund$
 "u ! grant program may be provid$ 9 ca%
 or 9 ! =m ( an 9-k9d contribution (    
s]vices or mat]ials4  7d7 ,adm9i/ration 
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y may ent] into
 an agreem5t to manage ! grant program )
 ! ,national ,fi% & ,wildlife ,f\ndation
 or a simil> organization t (f]s grant  
managem5t s]vices4  7#b7 ,fund+ ,if !   
,secret>y ent]s into an agreem5t "u     
p>agraph 7#a71 ! organization select$   

%all--  7,a7 = ea* fiscal ye>1 receive  
am\nts to c>ry out ?is section 9 an     
advance paym5t ( ! entire am\nt on      
,octob] #a1 or z soon z practicable     
!reaft]1 ( t fiscal ye>2  7,b7 inve/ &  
re9ve/ ^? am\nts = ! b5efit ( ! grant   
program2 &  7,c7 o!rwise adm9i/] ! grant
 program to support p>tn]%ips betwe5 !  
public & private sectors 9 accordance ) 
?is ,act4  7#c7 ,requirem5ts ,if !      
,secret>y ent]s into an agreem5t ) !    
,f\ndation "u p>agraph 7#a71 any am\nts 
receiv$ by ! ,f\ndation "u ?is section  
%all be subject to ! ,national ,fi% &   
,wildlife ,f\ndation ,e/abli%m5t ,act   
7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq471 exclud+  
section #aj7;a7 ( t ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 
#cgji7;a774  7e7 ,te*nical assi/ance ,! 
,secret>y may provide1 or provide =1    
te*nical assi/ance to c>ry out ?is      
section1 on a nonreimbursable basis1    
to--  7#a7 o!r ,f$]al ag5cies2  7#b7    
,/ate & local gov]nm5ts2  7#c7 nonpr(it 
organizations2  7#d7 community          
organizations2  7#e7 in/itutions ( high]

 education2 or  7#f7 o!r entities1 z !  
,secret>y det]m9es to be appropriate4   
#f4 ,annual reports ,n lat] ?an #ahj    
days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act &
 annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all     
submit to ,congress a report on !       
implem5tation ( ?is ,act1 includ+ a     
description ( ea* project t has receiv$ 
fund+ "u ?is ,act4  #g4 ,au?orization ( 
,appropriations  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,unit$ 
,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice %all use
 funds )9 its exi/+ budget>y au?ority to
 c>ry out ?is ,act4  7b7 ,use ,( any    
am\nt made available ea* fiscal ye> to  
c>ry out ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all use 
at lea/ #ge p]c5t to c>ry out ! grant   
program "u section #e includ+ to        
provide1 or provide =1 te*nical         
assi/ance "u section #e7;e74