,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #accb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #h1 #bjag ,ms4   
,/ab5[ 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,pet]s1 & ,mr4   
,br[n7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,environm5t & ,public ,works  ,a ,,bill 
,to e/abli% ! ,great ,lakes ,aquatic    
,connectivity & ,infra/ructure ,program1
 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title     
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,great ,lakes 
,aquatic ,connectivity & ,infra/ructure 
,program ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress    
f9ds t-- 7#a7 mod]niz+ ag+ infra/ructure
 & ! protection ( habitat & ecosy/ems t 
support fi% populations are critical to 
,/ate1 regional1 & local economies 9 !  
,great ,lakes bas92  7#b7               
infra/ructure-- 7,a7 ma9ta9s ess5tial   
s]vices & safety = communities 9 !      
,great ,lakes bas92 &  7,b7 9 "s cases1 
provides a long-t]m b>ri] to ! expansion
 ( aquatic invasive species2  7#c7 z ( !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !re are m  
?an #g1jjj record$ dams & an e/imat$    

#bfj1jjj road /ream cross+s ( v>y+ ages 
& conditions 9 ! ,great ,lakes bas92    
7#d7 fi% & wildlife populations ) r$uc$ 
access to habitat are g5]ally less robu/
 & m susceptible to decl9es 9 abundance 
?an populations ) access to suitable    
habitat2  7#e7 effici5cies are increas$ 
:5 ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local exp]ts &      
regulators "w collaboratively to id5tify
 & implem5t be/ practices t result 9    
address+ infra/ructure ne$s :ile also1  
to ! ext5t possible1 exp&+ habitats =   
fi% & wildlife populations & prev5t+ !  
spread ( aquatic invasive species2 &    
7#f7 x is imp]ative to e/abli% a program
 simil> to ! program e/abli%$ by !      
,great ,lakes ,fi% & ,wildlife          
,re/oration ,act ( #aiij 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 
#ida et seq47 t is d$icat$ to           
collaboratively & /rategically seek+    
opportunities to mod]nize ,great ,lakes 
infra/ructure :ile cons]v+ ! aquatic    
ecosy/em4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 
7#a7 ,committee ,! t]m ,committee means 
! ,great ,lakes ,aquatic ,connectivity &

 ,infra/ructure ,committee e/abli%$ by  
section #e7;a74  7#b7 ,director ,! t]m  
,director means ! ,director ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice4  7#c7  
,great ,lakes ,/ates ,! t]m ,great      
,lakes ,/ates means ea* ( ! ,/ates (    
,ill9ois1 ,indiana1 ,mi*igan1 ,m9nesota1
 ,ohio1 ,p5nsylvania1 ,new ,york1 &     
,wiscons94  7#d7 ,program ,! t]m        
,program means ! ,great ,lakes ,aquatic 
,connectivity & ,infra/ructure ,program 
e/abli%$ by section #d7;a74  7#e7       
,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y means !      
,secret>y ( ,transportation4  7#f7      
,/rategic plan ,! t]m /rategic plan     
means ! /rategic plan develop$ "u       
section #d7;d77#a74  #d4 ,great ,lakes  
,aquatic ,connectivity & ,infra/ructure 
,program  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re is       
e/abli%$ )9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% &      
,wildlife ,s]vice a program = ! removal 
or selective bypass ( b>ri]s to aquatic 
connectivity 9 tribut>ies ( ! ,great    
,lakes1 to be kn[n z ! ,great ,lakes    
,aquatic ,connectivity & ,infra/ructure 

,program4  7b7 ,goal  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!  
goal ( ! ,program is to id5tify &       
implem5t volunt>y measures t re/ore     
aquatic species to self-su/a9+ levels by
 reconnect+ aquatic habitats 9 ! ,great 
,lakes bas9 :ile ma9ta9+ & mod]niz+ ne$$
 infra/ructure1 p>ticul>ly 9 locations  
:]e roads1 tribut>ies1 or dams int]sect4
  7#b7 ,approa* ,! goal "u p>agraph 7#a7
 %all be a*iev$ by us+ a proactive      
sci5ce-bas$ approa* t-- 7,a7 balances   
infra/ructure mod]nization :ile enhanc+ 
aquatic connectivity ?\gh ! removal or  
bypass ( b>ri]s to ! movem5t ( aquatic  
organisms2  7,b7 m9imizes ! expansion ( 
habitat = aquatic invasive species2     
7,c7 supports ! developm5t &            
implem5tation ( selective fi% passage   
te*nologies2  7,d7 measures !           
effectiv5ess ( projects "u ! ,program & 
in=ms /rategic plann+ = ! ,program2 &   
7,e7 avoids ! con/ruction ( un9t5d$     
b>ri]s by focus+ on ecosy/em resili5cy  
?r\gh collaboration & be/ practices4    
7c7 ,collaboration ,! ,director & !     

,secret>y %all collaborate ) ,f$]al1    
,/ate1 local1 & tribal gov]nm5ts1 !     
,great ,lakes ,fi%]y ,commission1       
signatories to ! ,jo9t ,/rategic ,plan =
 ,managem5t ( ,great ,lakes ,fi%]ies1 & 
any o!r /akehold] ! ,director & !       
,secret>y det]m9e to be appropriate to  
support--  7#a7 s\nd approa*es to       
address+ infra/ructure & aquatic        
populations 9 ! ,great ,lakes2 &  7#b7  
ecosy/em resili5cy4  7d7 ,/rategic plan 
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! 
date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 subject to !
 availability ( appropriations1 !       
,director1 9 consultation ) ! ,committee
 %all f9alize a /rategic plan = !       
,program to address aquatic connectivity
 9 ! ,great ,lakes bas94  7#b7          
,inclusions ,! /rategic plan %all       
include an analysis ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 &  
local ef=ts to enhance aquatic          
connectivity 9 ! ,great ,lakes bas94    
7#c7 ,review ,n less frequ5tly ?an once 
e #e ye>s1 ! ,director1 9 consultation )
 ! ,committee1 %all review & revise !   

/rategic plan z appropriate4  7#d7      
,availability ,! ,director %all make !  
/rategic plan available on a publicly   
accessible ,int]net website4  7e7       
,proposals  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,director  
%all enc\rage ! developm5t &1 subject to
 ! availability ( appropriations1 !     
implem5tation ( aquatic connectivity    
proposals to a*ieve ! goal describ$ 9   
subsection 7b74  7#b7 ,reque/ =         
proposals ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date
 ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act & annually       
!reaft]1 ! ,director %all reque/ t any  
int]e/$ entity submit a proposal to     
re/ore aquatic connectivity 9 ! ,great  
,lakes bas9 9 support ( ! /rategic plan4
  7#c7 ,submission ,a proposal ref]r$ to
 9 p>agraph 7#b7 %all be submitt$ to !  
,director-- 7,a7 at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1
 & conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,director  
may require2 &  7,b7 consi/5t ) o!r laws
 relat+ to ! re/oration ( ! aquatic     
res\rces & habitat ( ! ,great ,lakes    
bas94  7#d7 ,selection crit]ia ,9       
select+ & fund+ proposals1 ! ,director  

%all take into acc\nt ! effectiv5ess &  
appropriat5ess ( ! propos$ activities ) 
respect to--  7,a7 ! /rategic plan2     
7,b7 ! re/oration ( aquatic res\rces &  
habitat2  7,c7 transportation &         
infra/ructure 9 ! ,great ,lakes bas92 & 
7,d7 m9imiz+ ! expansion ( habitat =    
aquatic invasive species4  7#e7         
,implem5tation ,aft] consid]+ !         
recomm5dations ( ! ,committee & ! goal  
describ$ 9 subsection 7b71 ! ,director  
%all--  7,a7 select proposals to be     
implem5t$2 &  7,b7 subject to !         
availability ( funds & subsection 7f71  
aw>d fund+ to implem5t ! select$        
proposals4  7f7 ,non-,f$]al mat*+ funds 
requir$  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n less ?an #be  
p]c5t ( ! co/ ( implem5t+ a proposal    
%all be d]iv$ f non-,f$]al s\rces1      
includ+ 9-k9d contributions4  7#b7 ,tim+
 ,! non-,f$]al %>e ( ! co/ ( implem5t+ a
 proposal may be provid$ at any "t dur+ 
! #b-ye> p]iod prec$+ ,janu>y #a ( ! ye>
 9 :i* ! ,director receives ! proposal4 
7g7 ,report to ,congress ,n lat] ?an    

,decemb] #ca1 #bjai1 & annually !reaft]1
 ! ,director %all submit to ,congress a 
report t includes--  7#a7 a summ>y ( !  
outcomes ( actions tak5 "u ! ,program1  
includ+ recomm5dations ( activities1 :]e
 appropriate1 t w\ld contribute to      
a*ievem5t ( ! goal describ$ 9 subsection
 7b72  7#b7 a description ( activities  
c>ri$ out "u ! ,program & an explanation
 ( h[ ^? activities help a*ieve ! goal  
describ$ 9 subsection 7b72 &  7#c7 an   
analysis ( ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local ef=ts 
to enhance multidiscipl9>y approa*es to 
enhance aquatic connectivity &          
infra/ructure improvem5ts 9 ! ,great    
,lakes bas91 & recomm5dations to improve
 ! effici5cy & effectiv5ess ( !         
,program4  #e4 ,great ,lakes ,aquatic   
,connectivity & ,infra/ructure          
,committee  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!re is     
e/abli%$ a committee1 to be kn[n z !    
,great ,lakes ,aquatic ,connectivity &  
,infra/ructure ,committee1 :i* %all     
op]ate "u ! guidance ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice4  7b7 ,memb]%ip

  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,committee %all      
consi/ (--  7,a7 #b repres5tatives ( ea*
 ( ! ,great ,lakes ,/ates1 ( :om-- 7i7  
#a repres5tative ) exp]tise 9 road & dam
 infra/ructure %all be appo9t$ by1 &    
s]ve at ! pleasure (1 z det]m9$ by !    
,/ate--  7,i7 ! head ( ! transportation 
dep>tm5t ( ! ,/ate2 or  7,,ii7 ! head ( 
! dam safety dep>tm5t ( ! ,/ate2 &  7ii7
 #a repres5tative ) exp]tise 9 aquatic  
habitat connectivity1 or a simil> field1
 %all be appo9t$ by1 & s]ve at !        
pleasure (1 ! head ( ! environm5tal     
managem5t ag5cy ( ! ,/ate2 &  7,b7 #b   
repres5tatives ( ea* tribal organization
 repres5t$ on ! ,c\ncil ( ,lake         
,committees ( ! ,great ,lakes ,fi%]y    
,commission1 ( :om--  7i7 #a            
repres5tative ) exp]tise 9 road & dam   
infra/ructure %all be appo9t$ by1 & s]ve
 at ! pleasure (1 ! tribal *air2 &  7ii7
 #a repres5tative ) exp]tise 9 aquatic  
habitat connectivity1 or a simil> field1
 %all be appo9t$ by1 & s]ve at !        
pleasure (1 ! tribal *air4  7#b7        

,obs]v]s ,!re %all be #c p>ticipants :o 
%all s]ve z nonvot+ obs]v]s ( !         
,committee1 ( :om-- 7,a7 #a %all be     
appo9t$ by ! ,director2  7,b7 #a %all be
 appo9t$ by ! ,secret>y2 &  7,c7 #a %all
 be appo9t$ by ! ,great ,lakes ,fi%]y   
,commission4  7#c7 ,recusal ,a memb] ( !
 ,committee %all recuse himself or      
h]self f consid]ation ( proposals t !   
memb]1 or ! entity t ! memb] repres5ts1 
has submitt$4  7c7 ,duties ,! ,committee
 %all-- 7#a7 review proposals submitt$  
"u section #d7;e77#c7 to assess !       
effectiv5ess & appropriat5ess ( !       
proposals to a*ieve ! goal describ$ 9   
section #d7;b72  7#b7 recomm5d to !     
,director any proposals review$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a7 t ! ,committee det]m9es   
%\ld receive fund+ & be implem5t$ "u !  
,program2  7#c7 meet n less frequ5tly   
?an annually2 &  7#d7 e/abli% ! t]ms (  
ref]5ce ( ! ,committee1 z appropriate4  
#f4 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re 
is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry   
out ! ,program #e1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal

 ye>s #bjah ?r\gh #bjbb1 ( :i*1 = ea*   
fiscal ye>--  7#a7 n m ?an ! less] ( #ae
 p]c5t & #gej1jjj %all be available =   
proposals select$ "u section #d7;e77#e7 
t support ! developm5t ( selective fi%  
passage te*nologies2 &  7#b7 ! less] (  
#e p]c5t & #bej1jjj %all be available to
 ! ,director & ! ,secret>y = co/s       
incurr$ 9 coord9at+ ! ,program &        
implem5t+ ! proposals select$ "u section
 #d7;e77#e74  #g4 ,sav+s clause ,no?+ 9 
?is ,act conflicts ) ! au?ority ( !     
,great ,lakes ,fi%]y ,commission to     
eradicate or m9imize a sea lamprey      
population "u ! ,conv5tion on ,great    
,lakes ,fi%]ies sign$ at ,wa%+ton       
,septemb] #aj1 #aied 7#f ,u4,s4,t4      
#bhcf2 ,,tias #ccbf71 betwe5 ! ,unit$   
,/ates ( ,am]ica & ,canada4