,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hcdh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #bb1 #bjbj,mr4 ,tonko 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,serrano1 ,mr4 ,engel1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,mr4 ,payne1 ,mr4 ,van ,drew1 and ,mr4 ,malinowski7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to direct restoration and protection of the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey watersheds and estuaries hydrologically connected to ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed1 which encompasses all the watersheds that flow into ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor and their associated estuaries1 such as the ,hudson1 ,mohawk1 ,raritan1 ,passaic1 ,hackensack1 and ,bronx ,river ,watersheds and the ,hudson ,river ,estuary1 provide multiple benefits to diverse stakeholders including regarding fisheries and wildlife1 conservation of natural resources and public and private lands1 critical urban greenspaces and quality of life1 and conservation of ocean and coastal resources4 7#b7 ,these resources support one of the most densely populated and economically important regions in the country4 7#c7 ,managing this public resource and its many services requires leadership from the ,department of the ,interior and coordination among other ,federal agencies1 two ,states1 hundreds of counties1 cities and towns1 and millions of property owners4 7#d7 ,these ongoing challenges are compounded by the likely impacts of rising air and water temperatures1 increases in incidences of extreme weather from large storms to rainfall1 and rising sea levels4 7#e7 ,the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor contributes #h1ejj1jjj1jjj annually in ,federal1 ,state1 and local tax revenue and is directly or indirectly responsible for #fbi1jjj jobs with #ij1ejj1jjj1jjj in annual personal and business wages4 7#f7 ,the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed supports multiple industries that attract over #fj1gjj1jjj1jjj in annual revenue through tourism1 commercial fishing1 and recreational activities4 7#g7 ,the ,mohawk ,river's water resources play an important role in tourism1 shipping1 and related businesses1 with tourism alone valued at more than #a1cdj1jjj1jjj annually4 7#h7 ,management of the shorelines of the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed is critical to flood mitigation and habitat for fish and wildlife4 ,further1 following the loss of life and billions of dollars of damages caused by ,hurricanes ,sandy1 ,irene and ,lee1 ,federal1 ,state1 and local governments recognize that natural and nature-based flood hazard mitigation measures1 including living shorelines and restoring the function of riparian corridors1 are cost-effective solutions4 7#i7 ,restoration activities in the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed are supported through several ,federal and ,state programs1 and funding for those important programs should continue and complement the establishment of the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,program1 which is intended to build on and help coordinate restoration and protection funding mechanisms at the ,federal1 ,state1 regional1 and local levels4 7#aj7 ,millions of people rely on the ,mohawk1 ,raritan1 and ,hackensack ,rivers as sources of drinking water4 7#aa7 ,the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed supports ,federal threatened species and endangered species1 including the shortnose sturgeon and ,atlantic sturgeon4 7#ab7 ,many residents of the region of the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed live in communities lacking in environmental justice1 where access to and enjoyment of fish1 wildlife1 clean water1 and other natural resources have been impaired or compromised4 7#ac7 ,drawing on existing management plans and existing and ongoing voluntary conservation efforts in the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed will improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness1 as well as increase private-sector investments and coordination of ,federal and non-,federal resources4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,approved plans ,the term approved plan-- 7,a7 means any plan for management of the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed-- 7i7 that has been approved by a ,federal1 regional1 ,state1 or local governmental entity2 or 7ii7 that is determined by the ,director1 in consultation with such entities1 to contribute to the achievement of the purposes of this ,act2 and 7,b7 includes the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor ,estuary ,program 7,,hep7 ,action ,agenda1 the ,hudson ,raritan ,comprehensive ,restoration ,plan1 the ,hudson ,river ,comprehensive ,restoration ,plan1 the ,hudson ,river ,estuary ,program ,action ,agenda1 the ,mohawk ,river ,action ,agenda1 the ,sustainable ,raritan ,river ,initiative ,action ,plan1 the ,lower ,passaic and ,bronx ,harlem ,federal ,urban ,waters ,partnership ,workplans1 the ,new ,jersey ,sports and ,exhibition ,authority ,meadowlands ,restoration ,plan1 as well as other critical conservation projects in the region that achieve the purposes of this ,act4 7#b7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#c7 ,environmental justice ,the term environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race1 color1 national origin1 or income1 with respect to the development1 implementation1 and enforcement of environmental laws1 regulations1 and policies4 7#d7 ,foundation ,the term ,foundation means the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation4 7#e7 ,grant program ,the term grant program means the voluntary ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,grant ,program established under section #e4 7#f7 ,program ,the term program means the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,program established under section #d4 7#g7 ,restoration and protection ,the term restoration and protection means the conservation1 stewardship1 and enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife and water quality to preserve and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on which they depend and for use and enjoyment by the public4 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director4 7#i7 ,service ,the term ,service means the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#aj7 ,watershed ,the term ,watershed means the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed1 which is comprised of all land area whose surface water drains into ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor1 the waters contained within that land area1 and the estuaries associated with those watersheds4 #d4 ,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 ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,program4 7b7 ,duties ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 draw on existing and new approved plans for the ,watershed1 or portions of the ,watershed1 and work in consultation with applicable management entities1 including representatives of the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor and ,estuary ,program 7,,hep71 ,hudson ,river ,estuary ,program1 ,mohawk ,river ,basin ,program1 ,sustainable ,raritan ,river ,initiative1 the ,federal ,government1 and other ,state and local governments1 and regional and nonprofit organizations1 as appropriate1 to identify1 prioritize1 and implement restoration and protection activities within the ,watershed2 and 7#b7 adopt a ,watershed-wide strategy that-- 7,a7 supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities developed in accordance with paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 targets cost-effective projects with measurable results2 7,c7 maximizes conservation outcomes2 7,d7 recognizes the needs of communities lacking in environmental justice2 and 7,e7 establishes the voluntary grant and technical assistance programs authorized in this ,act4 7c7 ,consultation ,in establishing the 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 and 7,d7 the ,director of the ,national ,park ,service2 7#b7 the ,governors of ,new ,york and ,new ,jersey2 7#c7 the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor ,estuary ,program2 and 7#d7 other public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in the ,watershed4 7d7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the program include-- 7#a7 coordinating restoration and protection activities among ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the ,watershed2 7#b7 carrying out coordinated restoration and protection activities1 and providing for technical assistance throughout the ,watershed-- 7,a7 to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration and protection activities2 7,b7 to improve and maintain water quality to support fish1 wildlife1 and their habitat1 as well as to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the ,watershed consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat2 7,c7 to advance the use of natural and nature-based features1 living shoreline1 and other green infrastructure techniques to maximize the resilience of communities1 natural systems1 and habitats under changing sea levels1 storm risks1 and watershed conditions2 7,d7 to engage the public1 particularly communities lacking in environmental justice1 through outreach1 education1 and community involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and protection activities in the ,watershed2 7,e7 to increase scientific capacity to support the planning1 monitoring1 and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities2 7,f7 to provide for feasibility and planning studies for green infrastructure projects that achieve habitat restoration and stormwater management goals2 7,g7 to support land conservation and management activities necessary to fulfill the ,watershed-wide strategy adopted under subsection 7b72 7,h7 to provide technical assistance to carry out restoration and protection activities in the ,watershed2 7,i7 to monitor environmental quality to assess progress toward the goals of this ,act2 and 7,j7 to improve fish and wildlife habitats1 as well as opportunities for personal recreation1 along rivers and shore fronts within communities lacking in environmental justice2 and 7#c7 other activities necessary for the implementation of approved plans4 #e4 ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,grant ,program 7a7 ,establishment ,the ,secretary shall establish a voluntary grant and technical assistance program1 to be known as the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,grant ,program1 to provide competitive matching grants of varying amounts to ,state and local governments1 nonprofit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 and other eligible entities to carry out restoration and protection activities for the ,watershed4 7b7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the agencies1 organizations1 and other persons referred to in section #d7;c71 shall develop criteria for the grant program to help ensure that activities funded under this section accomplish one or more of the purposes of this ,act4 7c7 ,cost sharing 7#a7 ,federal share ,the ,federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program shall not exceed #ge percent of the total cost of the activity1 as determined by the ,secretary4 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 7d7 ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may enter into an agreement to manage the grant program with the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation or a similar organization that offers grant management services4 7#b7 ,funding ,if the ,secretary enters into an agreement under paragraph 7#a71 the organization selected shall-- 7,a7 for each fiscal year1 receive amounts made available to carry out this section in an advance payment of the entire amounts on ,october #a of that fiscal year1 or as soon as practicable thereafter2 7,b7 invest and reinvest those amounts for the benefit of the grant program2 and 7,c7 otherwise administer the grant program to support partnerships between the public and private sectors in accordance with this ,act4 7#c7 ,requirements ,if the ,secretary enters into an agreement with the ,foundation under paragraph 7#a71 any amounts received by the ,foundation under this section shall be subject to the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation ,establishment ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgja et seq471 excluding section #aj7;a7 of that ,act 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #cgji7;a774 #f4 ,annual reports ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,congress a report on the implementation of this ,act1 including a description of each project that has received funding under this ,act in the preceding fiscal year4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this ,act #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbf4 7b7 ,use for grant program ,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 under section #e and to provide1 or provide for1 technical assistance under such program4