,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aice ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #d1 #bjae ,ms4 ,baldwin 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,king1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 and ,mr4 ,peters7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,commerce to undertake certain activities to support waterfront community revitalization and resiliency4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,waterfront ,community ,revitalization and ,resiliency ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 many communities in the ,united ,states were developed along waterfronts2 7#b7 water proximity and access is a recognized economic driver2 7#c7 water shortages faced by parts of the ,united ,states underscore the need to manage water sustainably and restore water quality2 7#d7 interest in waterfront revitalization and development has grown1 while the circumstances driving waterfront development have changed2 7#e7 waterfront communities face challenges to revitalizing and leveraging water resources1 such as outdated development patterns1 deteriorated water infrastructure1 industrial contamination of soil and sediment1 and lack of public access to the waterfront1 which are often compounded by overarching economic distress in the community2 7#f7 public investment in waterfront community development and infrastructure should reflect changing ecosystem conditions and extreme weather projections to ensure strategic1 resilient investments2 7#g7 individual communities have unique priorities1 concerns1 and opportunities related to waterfront restoration and community revitalization2 and 7#h7 the ,secretary of ,commerce has unique expertise in ,great ,lakes and ocean coastal resiliency and economic development4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,resilient waterfront community ,the term resilient waterfront community means a unit of local government or ,indian tribe that is-- 7,a7 7i7 bound in part by-- 7,i7 the ,great ,lakes2 or 7,,ii7 the ocean2 or 7ii7 bordered or traversed by a riverfront or an inland lake2 7,b7 self-nominated as a resilient waterfront community2 and 7,c7 designated by the ,secretary as a resilient waterfront community on the basis of the development by the community of an eligible resilient waterfront community plan1 with eligibility determined by the ,secretary after considering the requirements of subsections 7b7 and 7c7 of section #d4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 #d4 ,resilient waterfront communities designation 7a7 ,designation 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to paragraph 7#b71 the ,secretary shall designate resilient waterfront communities based on the extent to which a community meets the criteria described in subsection 7b74 7#b7 ,collaboration ,for inland lake and riverfront communities1 in making the designation described in paragraph 7#a7 and promulgating criteria and best practices1 the ,secretary shall work with the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency and the heads of other ,federal agencies1 as the ,secretary determines to be necessary to provide comparable services to waterfront communities not located on ,great ,lakes or ocean coasts4 7b7 ,resilient waterfront community plan ,a resilient waterfront community plan is a community-driven vision and plan that is developed-- 7#a7 voluntarily at the discretion of the community-- 7,a7 to respond to local needs2 or 7,b7 to take advantage of new water-oriented opportunities2 7#b7 with the leadership of the relevant governmental entity or ,indian tribe with the active participation of-- 7,a7 community residents2 7,b7 utilities2 and 7,c7 interested business and nongovernmental stakeholders2 7#c7 as a new document or by amending or compiling community planning documents1 as necessary1 at the discretion of the ,secretary2 7#d7 in consideration of with all applicable ,state and ,federal coastal zone management planning requirements2 7#e7 to address economic competitive strengths2 and 7#f7 to complement and incorporate the objectives and recommendations of applicable regional economic plans4 7c7 ,components of a resilient waterfront community plan ,a resilient waterfront community plan shall-- 7#a7 consider all1 or a portion of1 the waterfront area and adjacent land and water to which the waterfront is connected ecologically1 economically1 or through local governmental or tribal boundaries2 and 7#b7 describe a vision and plan for the community to develop as a vital and resilient waterfront community1 integrating consideration of-- 7,a7 the economic opportunities resulting from water proximity and access1 including-- 7i7 water-dependent industries2 7ii7 water-oriented commerce2 and 7iii7 recreation and tourism2 7,b7 the community relationship to the water1 including-- 7i7 quality of life2 7ii7 public health2 7iii7 community heritage2 and 7iv7 public access1 particularly in areas in which publicly funded ecosystem restoration is underway2 7,c7 ecosystem challenges and projections1 including unresolved and emerging impacts to the health and safety of the waterfront and projections for extreme weather and water conditions2 7,d7 infrastructure needs and opportunities1 to facilitate strategic and sustainable capital investments in-- 7i7 docks1 piers1 and harbor facilities2 7ii7 protection against storm surges1 waves1 and flooding2 7iii7 stormwater1 sanitary sewer1 and drinking water systems1 including green infrastructure and opportunities to control nonpoint source runoff2 and 7iv7 other community facilities and private development2 and 7,e7 such other factors as are determined by the ,secretary to align with metrics or indicators for resiliency1 considering environmental and economic changes4 7d7 ,duration ,after the designation of a community as a resilient waterfront community under subsection 7a71 a resilient waterfront community plan developed in accordance with subsections 7b7 and 7c7 shall be-- 7#a7 effective for the #aj-year period beginning on the date on which the ,secretary approves the resilient waterfront community plan2 and 7#b7 updated by the resilient waterfront community and submitted to the ,secretary for the approval of the ,secretary before the expiration of the #aj-year period4 #e4 ,resilient waterfront communities network 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall develop a resilient waterfront communities network to facilitate the sharing of best practices and technical assistance among waterfront communities4 7b7 ,public recognition ,in consultation with designated resilient waterfront communities1 the ,secretary shall provide formal public recognition of the designated resilient waterfront communities to promote tourism1 investment1 or other benefits4 #f4 ,waterfront community revitalization grant program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish within the ,department of ,commerce a program under which the ,secretary shall provide planning and implementation grants that leverage other sources of public and private investment to assist with the following eligible activities3 7#a7 ,the development of resilient waterfront community plans1 including such costs as planning and feasibility analysis4 7#b7 ,implementation of strategic components of a resilient waterfront community plan1 once a plan has been approved by the ,secretary4 7b7 ,eligible applicants 7#a7 ,lead applicants ,a unit of local government or an ,indian tribe shall be eligible to apply as a lead applicant for a grant under subsection 7a7 if the unit of local government or ,indian tribe is-- 7,a7 bound in part by-- 7i7 the ,great ,lakes2 or 7ii7 the ocean2 or 7,b7 bordered or traversed by a riverfront or an inland lake4 7#b7 ,subawards ,subject to subsection 7d77#c71 a lead applicant may provide a subaward to an eligible subawardee for implementation activities described in subsection 7d77#b74 7c7 ,use of planning funds 7#a7 ,in general ,planning funds received through a grant under subsection 7a7 shall be used to develop a resilient waterfront community plan4 7#b7 ,eligible planning activities ,in developing a resilient waterfront community plan using amounts made available under subsection 7a71 a resilient waterfront community may-- 7,a7 conduct community visioning and outreach2 7,b7 identify challenges and opportunities2 7,c7 develop strategies and solutions2 7,d7 prepare plan materials1 including text1 maps1 design1 and preliminary engineering2 7,e7 collaborate across local agencies and work with regional1 ,state1 and ,federal agencies to identify1 understand1 and develop responses to changing ecosystem and economic circumstances2 and 7,f7 conduct other planning activities that the ,secretary considers necessary for the development of a resilient waterfront community plan that responds to revitalization and resiliency issues confronted by the resilient waterfront community4 7d7 ,use of implementation funds 7#a7 ,in general ,implementation funds received through a grant under subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 shall be used to initiate implementation of a resilient waterfront community plan and facilitate high-quality development1 including leveraging local and private sector investment2 and 7,b7 may be used on #a or more eligible activities to address strategic community priorities that are identified in the resilient waterfront community plan4 7#b7 ,eligible implementation activities ,grant funds may be used flexibly across #a or more eligible implementation costs1 such as-- 7,a7 site preparation2 7,b7 environmental review2 7,c7 engineering and design2 7,d7 acquiring easements or land for uses such as green infrastructure1 public amenities1 or assembling development sites2 7,e7 updates to zoning codes2 7,f7 construction of-- 7i7 public waterfront or boating amenities2 and 7ii7 public spaces2 7,g7 infrastructure upgrades to improve coastal resiliency2 7,h7 economic and community development marketing and outreach2 and 7,i7 other activities at the discretion of the ,secretary4 7#c7 ,implementation subawards 7,a7 ,in general ,to assist in implementing eligible implementation activities1 a lead applicant may grant subawards from implementation funds to eligible subawardees1 including-- 7i7 a nonprofit organization2 7ii7 a public utility2 7iii7 a private entity2 7iv7 an institution of higher education2 7v7 a ,state government2 or 7vi7 a regional organization4 7,b7 ,lead applicant responsibility ,the lead applicant shall ensure that grant funds1 including funds awarded as a subaward1 are used for the purposes of1 and in a manner consistent with1 the waterfront community revitalization grant program4 7e7 ,specifications on use of grant funds 7#a7 ,in general ,a grant made under this section shall be not less than #ej1jjj or more than #a1jjj1jjj4 7#b7 ,limitations on use ,in accordance with the grant agreement1 a resilient waterfront community shall spend no more than #bjj1jjj of any grant awarded under this section on planning activities1 with remaining grant award balances reserved for implementation activities after the approval of the ,secretary of an approved resilient waterfront community plan4 7#c7 ,matching funds 7,a7 ,in general ,a resilient waterfront community receiving a grant under this section shall provide non-,federal matching funds toward completion of an eligible project in an amount equal to not less than #be percent of the grant amount4 7,b7 ,non-,federal match ,non-,federal matching funds may be provided by-- 7i7 #a or more units of local or tribal government2 7ii7 a ,state government2 7iii7 a nonprofit organization2 7iv7 a private entity2 7v7 a foundation2 7vi7 a public utility2 or 7vii7 a regional organization4 7,c7 ,in-kind match ,the ,secretary shall treat as non-,federal matching funds the value of in-kind contributions of land or easements held in perpetuity by the resilient waterfront community4 7#d7 ,funding periods ,in establishing obligation and expenditure periods for grants under this section1 the ,secretary shall provide grant periods that enable funds to be used strategically to match private or public sector investments in planning and implementation4 #g4 ,interagency awareness 7a7 ,interagency awareness ,at regular intervals1 the ,secretary shall provide a list of resilient waterfront communities to the applicable ,states and the heads of national and regional offices of interested ,federal agencies1 including at a minimum-- 7#a7 the ,secretary of ,transportation2 7#b7 the ,secretary of ,agriculture2 7#c7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7#d7 the ,administrator of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency2 7#e7 the ,assistant ,secretary of the ,army for ,civil ,works2 7#f7 the ,secretary of the ,interior2 and 7#g7 the ,secretary of ,housing and ,urban ,development4 7b7 ,interagency ,coordination ,to encourage consideration of opportunities for synergistic projects and timelines1 the ,secretary shall coordinate awareness of designated resilient waterfront communities among managers of relevant ,federal grant and loan programs that fund projects or infrastructure that are addressed in a resilient waterfront community plan4 #h4 ,preferential grant status for ,federal funding 7a7 ,department of ,commerce grant and loan programs ,the ,secretary shall provide to designated resilient waterfront communities preferential status in select grant and loan programs of the ,department of ,commerce1 including-- 7#a7 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 7#b7 the ,economic ,development ,administration2 and 7#c7 other relevant entities under the authority of the ,secretary4 7b7 ,other grant and loan programs ,considering the integration in resilient waterfront community plans of myriad components and project types traditionally funded through separate agencies and departments and the opportunity that resilient waterfront communities present for resilient long-term investment1 the heads of other interested ,federal agencies and departments1 including the agency heads described in section #g7;a71 are encouraged to provide designated resilient waterfront communities with preferential status in grant and loan programs4 #i4 ,authorization of ,appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this ,act #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjaf through #bjbj1 to remain available until expended4