,i #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gbdf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,december #aj1 #bjah,mr4 ,tonko introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committee on ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior to establish a nonregulatory program to support restoration and protection efforts in the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin region1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin together with the ,erie ,canal connects the ,great ,lakes to the ,atlantic ,ocean and includes the approximately #ac1djj square mile area encompassing the following five large sub-basins3 7,a7 ,the ,upper ,hudson ,river sub-basin4 7,b7 ,the ,mohawk ,river sub-basin4 7,c7 ,the ,lower ,hudson ,river sub-basin4 7,d7 ,the ,passaic ,river sub-basin4 7,e7 ,the ,raritan ,river sub-basin4 7#b7 ,the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin includes the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey metropolitan area1 which is the largest metropolitan area of the country4 ,this metropolitan area1 together with the many communities in the ,upper ,hudson1 ,mohawk1 and ,lower ,hudson sub-basins1 makes the area one of the most densely and heavily populated river basins in the country1 with over #ae1jjj1jjj people4 7#c7 ,the water resources of the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin are functionally interrelated and their uses are interdependent4 ,a dedicated program is essential to provide effective communication1 coordination1 and cooperation among ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments1 nongovernmental organizations1 and the private sector4 7#d7 ,the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor ,estuary is a complex natural harbor at the junction of three major water bodies1 the ,new ,york ,bight1 the ,hudson ,river1 and the ,long ,island ,sound4 ,in addition1 it receives freshwater inputs from the ,raritan and ,passaic ,rivers4 ,the health and productivity of the ,new ,york ,bight are affected directly by the quality of the freshwater inputs to the estuary from the ,hudson1 ,passaic1 and ,raritan ,rivers4 7#e7 ,the ,mohawk ,river and its watershed drain directly into the ,hudson ,river1 providing the largest freshwater input to the brackish water mix that characterizes the ,hudson ,river ,estuary and supports a biologically rich and productive ecosystem4 7#f7 ,the ,mohawk ,river is integrated with the ,erie ,canal along much of its channel1 tying the operation of the canal system to the health of the ,mohawk and ,hudson ,rivers4 7#g7 ,individuals in many communities throughout the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin have experienced devastating flooding that has led to tremendous costs for homeowners1 businesses1 and ,state and local governments4 ,a holistic approach to river and stream monitoring1 updated floodplain maps1 and development of floodplain management strategies based upon improved understanding of the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin's hydrology would make communities safer and more resilient to flood events4 7#h7 ,climate change is occurring and1 as a result1 sea level rise along the ,united ,states eastern coastline will increase the vulnerability of coastal communities to storm surge and flooding in the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey harbors and along the major rivers in the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin4 7#i7 ,each of the subwatersheds of the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin receives the support of programs administered by ,federal1 ,state1 regional1 and local organizations4 7#aj7 ,new ,york1 ,new ,jersey1 ,vermont1 ,massachusetts1 and ,connecticut have a long history of achievements working together on resource management issues through their memberships in the ,delaware ,river ,basin ,commission1 the ,susquehanna ,river ,basin ,commission1 the ,appalachian ,regional ,commission1 the ,new ,england ,interstate ,water ,pollution ,control ,commission1 and the ,lake ,champlain ,basin ,program4 7#aa7 ,the impacts experienced as a result of recent hurricanes and storms illustrate the need for integrated1 basin-wide planning to address water management challenges and vulnerability to flooding4 7#ab7 ,protecting wetlands1 expanding use of green infrastructure1 strengthening dams and levees1 and upgrading wastewater and water treatment infrastructure will be necessary to reduce the impacts of extreme weather events and maintain water quality and public health4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,basin state ,the term ,basin ,state means each of the ,states of ,new ,york1 ,new ,jersey1 ,connecticut1 ,massachusetts1 and ,vermont4 7#b7 ,grant program ,the term grant program means the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin grant program established under section #e4 7#c7 ,hudson-,mohawk river basin ,the term ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin means the area of drainage of the ,hudson1 ,mohawk1 ,passaic1 and ,raritan ,rivers and their tributaries into the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor ,estuary4 7#d7 ,restoration and protection ,the term restoration and protection means the conservation1 stewardship1 and enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife to preserve and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on which they depend1 and for use and enjoyment by the public4 7#e7 ,restoration program ,the term restoration program means the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin restoration program established under section #d4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 7#g7 ,water resources ,the term water resources means all surface waters and ground waters contained or otherwise originating within the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin4 #d4 ,restoration program establishment 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a nonregulatory program to be known as the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin ,restoration ,program4 7b7 ,program components ,in carrying out the restoration program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 establish a ,basin-wide strategy that-- 7,a7 addresses the program priorities described in subsection 7c72 and 7,b7 draws on established management plans for the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin1 or portions of the ,basin2 7#b7 coordinate activities being undertaken by the ,basin ,states1 advisory committees1 local governments1 institutions of higher education1 and nongovernmental organizations that are related to the program priorities described in subsection 7c72 and 7#c7 establish and administer the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin grant program in accordance with section #e4 7c7 ,program priorities ,the priorities of the restoration program are-- 7#a7 to address the management1 development1 conservation1 and use of water resources throughout the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin2 7#b7 to coordinate restoration and protection activities among ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin2 7#c7 to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities and provide for technical assistance throughout the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin and ,basin ,states-- 7,a7 to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration and protection activities2 7,b7 to improve and maintain water quality to support fish and wildlife1 as well as the habitats of fish and wildlife1 and drinking water2 7,c7 to sustain and enhance water management for volume and flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat2 7,d7 to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat2 7,e7 to facilitate strategic planning to maximize the resilience of natural systems and habitats under changing watershed conditions2 7,f7 to engage the public through outreach1 education1 and citizen involvement2 and 7,g7 to increase scientific capacity to support the planning1 monitoring1 and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities2 7#d7 to maintain an inventory of historic and cultural resources of the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin and identify projects to provide for cultural enrichment1 preservation of cultural resources1 public education about local heritage and historical significance of properties1 canals1 and historic sites within the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin2 7#e7 to provide a mechanism to promote communication and coordination among the organizations engaged in water resource management activities to promote collaborative working relationships among all entities working in the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin2 and 7#f7 to support the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities4 7d7 ,consultation ,in establishing the restoration program1 the ,secretary shall consult1 as appropriate1 with-- 7#a7 the heads of ,federal agencies1 including-- 7,a7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7,b7 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 7,c7 the ,chief of the ,natural ,resources ,conservation ,service2 7,d7 the ,chief of ,engineers of the ,corps of ,engineers2 and 7,e7 the head of any other applicable agency2 7#b7 the ,governors of the ,basin ,states2 7#c7 local governments2 7#d7 other public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin2 7#e7 institutions of higher education2 7#f7 nongovernmental organizations2 7#g7 regional organizations2 and 7#h7 other entities as determined by the ,secretary4 #e4 ,grants and assistance 7a7 ,hudson-,mohawk river basin grant program ,to the extent that funds are available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall establish a voluntary grant program to be known as the ,hudson-,mohawk ,river ,basin ,grant ,program to provide-- 7#a7 competitive matching grants of varying amounts to ,state and local governments1 nonprofit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 and other eligible entities to address the program priorities described in section #d7;c72 and 7#b7 technical assistance to grant recipients4 7b7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the organizations described in section #d7;d71 shall develop criteria for the grant program to help ensure that activities funded under this section address one or more of the program priorities described in section #d7;c74 7c7 ,cost sharing 7#a7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program shall be determined by the ,secretary and shall not exceed #hj percent of the total cost of the activity4 7#b7 ,non-federal share ,the non-,federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program may be provided in cash or in the form of an in-kind contribution of services or materials4 #f4 ,annual reports ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the implementation of this ,act1 including a description of each project that has received funding under this ,act4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this ,act #be1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjah through #bjbd4 7b7 ,use ,of any amount made available under this section for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall use at least #ge percent to carry out the grant program and to provide1 or provide for1 technical assistance under such program4