,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #iba  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,april #ad1 #bjae,mr4  
,c>p] 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4     
,book]1 ,mr4 ,m55dez1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mr4 
,s*um]1 & ,mrs4 ,gillibr&7 introduc$ !  
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$  
to ! ,committee on ,environm5t & ,public
 ,works  ,a ,,bill  ,to direct !        
,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior to e/abli% a     
nonregulatory 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
 ( #bjae4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds t--
  7#a7 ! ,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 is a      
national treasure ( great cultural1     
environm5tal1 ecological1 & economic    
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 loss ( =e/s & o!r natural  
cov] 9 ! ,upp] ,bas91 accord+ to a /udy 
conduct$ by ! ,philadelphia ,wat]       
,dep>tm5t2  7#e7 ! ,bas9 contributes    
#be1jjj1jjj1jjj annually 9 economic     
activity1 provides #ba1jjj1jjj1jjj 9    
ecosy/em goods & s]vices p] ye>1 & is   
directly or indirectly responsible =    
#fjj1jjj jobs ) #aj1jjj1jjj1jjj 9 annual
 wages2  7#f7 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 horse%oe crabs1 & r$ knots1 :i* h 

be5 id5tifi$ z unique species 9 ne$ (   
habitat improvem5t2  7#g7 ! ,bas9       
provides habitat = ov] #bjj resid5t &   
migrant fi% species1 includes           
significant recreational fi%]ies1 & is  
an important s\rce ( ea/]n oy/]1 blue   
crab1 & ! l>ge/ population ( ! ,am]ican 
horse%oe crab2  7#h7 ! annual dockside  
value ( comm]cial ea/]n oy/] fi%]y l&+s 
= ! ,delaw>e ,e/u>y is ne>ly #d1jjj1jjj1
 mak+ x ! f\r? mo/ lucrative fi%]y 9 !  
,delaw>e ,riv] ,bas9 wat]%$1 & prov5    
managem5t /rategies are available to    
increase oy/] habitat1 abundance1 &     
h>ve/2  7#i7 ! ,delaw>e ,bay has !      
second l>ge/ conc5tration ( %orebirds 9 
,nor? ,am]ica & is designat$ z "o ( ! #d
 mo/ important %orebird migration sites 
9 ! _w2  7#aj7 ! ,bas91 #ej p]c5t ( :i* 
is =e/$1 also has ov] #gjj1jjj acres (  
wetl&1 m ?an #abf1jjj acres ( :i* are   
recogniz$ z int]nationally important1   
result+ 9 a l&scape t provides ess5tial 
ecosy/em s]vices1 includ+ recreation1   
comm]cial1 & wat] quality b5efits2      

7#aa7 mu* ( ! rema9+ exempl>y natural   
l&scape 9 ! ,bas9 is vuln]able to fur!r 
degradation1 z ! ,bas9 ga9s             
approximately #aj 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#ab7 !    
,delaw>e ,riv] is ! longe/ undamm$ riv] 
ea/ ( ! ,mississippi2 a critical        
compon5t ( ! ,national ,wild & ,sc5ic   
,riv]s ,sy/em 9 ! ,nor!a/1 ) m ?an #djj 
miles designat$2 home to "o ( ! mo/     
heavily visit$ ,national ,p>k units 9 ! 
,unit$ ,/ates1 ! ,delaw>e ,wat] ,gap    
,national ,recreation ,area2 & !        
location ( #f ,national ,wildlife       
,refuges2  7#ac7 ! ,delaw>e ,riv]       
supports an int]nationally r5[n$ cold   
wat] fi%]y 9 m ?an #hj miles ( its      
nor!rn headwat]s t attracts t5s ( ?\s&s 
( visitors ea* ye> & g5]ates ov]        
#ba1jjj1jjj 9 annual rev5ue ?r\gh t\rism
 & recreational activities2  7#ad7      
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$uction measures to combat !    
problem1 includ+ re/or+ ! function (    
rip>ian corridors2  7#ae7 ! ,delaw>e    
,riv] ,port ,complex 7includ+ dock+     
facilities 9 ! ,/ates ( ,delaw>e1 ,new  
,j]sey1 & ,p5nsylvania7 is "o ( ! l>ge/ 
fre%wat] ports 9 ! _w1 ! ,port (        
,philadelphia h&les ! l>ge/ volume (    
int]national tonnage & #gj p]c5t ( ! oil
 %ipp$ to ! ,ea/ ,coa/1 & ! ,port (     
,wilm+ton1 a full-s]vice deepwat] port &
 m>9e t]m9al support+ m ?an #ab1jjj     
jobs1 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#af7 ! ,delaw>e
 ,e/u>y1 :]e fre%wat] f ! ,delaw>e ,riv]
 mixes ) saltwat] f ! ,atlantic ,ocean1 
is "o ( ! 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#ag7 ! ,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#ah7 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$]al1 
,/ate1 regional1 & local levels2 &      
7#ai7 ! exi/+ & ongo+ volunt>y          
cons]vation ef=ts 9 ! ,delaw>e ,riv]    
,bas9 necessitate improv$ 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 ! volunt>y ,delaw>e ,riv] 
,bas9 ,re/oration ,grant ,program       
e/abli%$ "u section #e4  7#f7 ,program  
,! t]m program means ! nonregulatory    
,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 /ew>d%ip1 & enhancem5t (   
habitat = fi% & wildlife to pres]ve &   
improve ecosy/ems & ecological processes
 on :i* !y dep5d1 & = use & enjoym5t by 
! public4  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 nonregulatory 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 ,bas9wide /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 projects ) measurable    
results2 &  7,c7 maximizes cons]vation  
outcomes ) no net ga9 ( ,f$]al full-"t  
equival5t employees2 &  7#c7 e/abli% !  
volunt>y grant & te*nical assi/ance     
programs 9 accordance ) section #e4  7c7
 ,coord9ation ,9 e/abli%+ ! program1 !  
,secret>y %all consult1 z appropriate1  
)--  7#a7 ! heads ( ,f$]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\rces ,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 activities1 & provid+ =      
te*nical assi/ance ?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% &   
wildlife1 & dr9k+ wat] = p2  7,c7 to    
su/a9 & enhance wat] managem5t = volume 
& flood damage mitigation improvem5ts to
 b5efit fi% & wildlife habitat2  7,d7 to
 improve opportunities = public access &

 recreation 9 ! ,bas9 consi/5t ) !      
ecological ne$s ( fi% & wildlife        
habitat2  7,e7 to facilitate /rategic   
plann+ to maximize ! resili5ce ( natural
 sy/ems & habitats "u *ang+ wat]%$      
conditions2  7,f7 to engage ! public    
?r\gh outrea*1 education1 & citiz5      
involvem5t1 to increase capacity &      
support = coord9at$ re/oration &        
protection activities 9 ! ,bas92  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,h7 to provide te*nical 
assi/ance to c>ry out re/oration &      
protection activities 9 ! ,bas94  #e4   
,grants & assi/ance  7a7 ,delaw>e ,riv] 
,bas9 ,re/oration ,grant ,program ,to ! 
ext5t t funds are available to c>ry out 
?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all e/abli% a 
volunt>y grant & te*nical assi/ance     
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 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% "o or m ( ! purposes 
id5tifi$ 9 section #d7;d77#b7 & advance 
! implem5tation ( priority actions or   
ne$s id5tifi$ 9 ! ,bas9wide /rategy     
adopt$ "u section #d7;b77#b74  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  #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 ,!re is    
au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !         
,secret>y to c>ry out ?is ,act          
#e1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjaf    
?r\gh #bjba4  7b7 ,use ,( any am\nt made
 available "u ?is section = ea* fiscal  
ye>1 ! ,secret>y %all use at lea/ #ge   
p]c5t to c>ry out ! grant program "u    
section #e & to provide1 or provide =1  
te*nical assi/ance "u su* program4