,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #hcdh  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #bb1        
#bjbj,mr4 ,tonko 7= himself1 ,mr4       
,s]rano1 ,mr4 ,engel1 ,mrs4 ,watson     
,coleman1 ,mr4 ,payne1 ,mr4 ,van ,drew1 
& ,mr4 ,mal9[ski7 introduc$ ! foll[+    
bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on   
,natural ,res\rces  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
direct re/oration & protection ( ! ,new 
,york-,new ,j]sey wat]%$s & e/u>ies     
hydrologically connect$ to ,new         
,york-,new ,j]sey ,h>bor1 & = o!r       
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey     
,wat]%$ ,protection ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s   
,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,! ,new   
,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$1 :i*          
encompasses all ! wat]%$s t fl[ into    
,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,h>bor & _!      
associat$ e/u>ies1 su* z ! ,hudson1     
,mohawk1 ,r>itan1 ,passaic1 ,hack5sack1 
& ,bronx ,riv] ,wat]%$s & ! ,hudson     
,riv] ,e/u>y1 provide multiple b5efits  
to div]se /akehold]s includ+ reg>d+     

fi%]ies & wildlife1 cons]vation (       
natural res\rces & public & private l&s1
 critical urban gre5spaces & quality (  
life1 & cons]vation ( ocean & coa/al    
res\rces4  7#b7 ,^! res\rces support "o 
( ! mo/ d5sely populat$ & economically  
important regions 9 ! c\ntry4  7#c7     
,manag+ ?is public res\rce & its _m     
s]vices requires lead]%ip f ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ! ,int]ior & coord9ation among o!r    
,f$]al ag5cies1 two ,/ates1 hundr$s (   
c\nties1 cities & t[ns1 & millions (    
prop]ty own]s4  7#d7 ,^! ongo+ *all5ges 
are comp\nd$ by ! likely impacts ( ris+ 
air & wat] temp]atures1 increases 9     
incid5ces ( extreme wea!r f l>ge /orms  
to ra9fall1 & ris+ sea levels4  7#e7 ,! 
,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,h>bor           
contributes #h1ejj1jjj1jjj annually 9   
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local tax rev5ue & is  
directly or indirectly responsible =    
#fbi1jjj jobs ) #ij1ejj1jjj1jjj 9 annual
 p]sonal & bus9ess wages4  7#f7 ,! ,new 
,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ supports      
multiple indu/ries t attract ov]        

#fj1gjj1jjj1jjj 9 annual rev5ue ?r\gh   
t\rism1 comm]cial fi%+1 & recreational  
activities4  7#g7 ,! ,mohawk ,riv]'s    
wat] res\rces play an important role 9  
t\rism1 %ipp+1 & relat$ bus9esses1 )    
t\rism alone valu$ at m ?an             
#a1cdj1jjj1jjj annually4  7#h7          
,managem5t ( ! %orel9es ( ! ,new        
,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ is critical to
 flood mitigation & habitat = fi% &     
wildlife4 ,fur!r1 foll[+ ! loss ( life &
 billions ( doll>s ( damages caus$ by   
,hurricanes ,s&y1 ,ir5e & ,lee1 ,f$]al1 
,/ate1 & local gov]nm5ts recognize t    
natural & nature-bas$ flood haz>d       
mitigation measures1 includ+ liv+       
%orel9es & re/or+ ! function ( rip>ian  
corridors1 are co/-effective solutions4 
7#i7 ,re/oration activities 9 ! ,new    
,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ are support$  
?r\gh sev]al ,f$]al & ,/ate programs1 & 
fund+ = ^? important programs %\ld      
cont9ue & complem5t ! e/abli%m5t ( !    
,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$          
,re/oration ,program1 :i* is int5d$ to  

build on & help coord9ate re/oration &  
protection fund+ me*anisms at ! ,f$]al1 
,/ate1 regional1 & local levels4  7#aj7 
,millions ( p rely on ! ,mohawk1        
,r>itan1 & ,hack5sack ,riv]s z s\rces ( 
dr9k+ wat]4  7#aa7 ,! ,new ,york-,new   
,j]sey ,wat]%$ supports ,f$]al ?reat5$  
species & endang]$ species1 includ+ !   
%ortnose /urgeon & ,atlantic /urgeon4   
7#ab7 ,_m resid5ts ( ! region ( ! ,new  
,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ live 9        
communities lack+ 9 environm5tal ju/ice1
 :]e access to & enjoym5t ( fi%1        
wildlife1 clean wat]1 & o!r natural     
res\rces h be5 impair$ or compromis$4   
7#ac7 ,draw+ on exi/+ managem5t plans & 
exi/+ & ongo+ volunt>y cons]vation ef=ts
 9 ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ w   
improve effici5cy & co/-effectiv5ess1 z 
well z increase private-sector inve/m5ts
 & coord9ation ( ,f$]al & non-,f$]al    
res\rces4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 
7#a7 ,approv$ plans ,! t]m approv$      
plan-- 7,a7 means any plan = managem5t (
 ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$-- 7i7 

t has be5 approv$ by a ,f$]al1 regional1
 ,/ate1 or local gov]nm5tal entity2 or  
7ii7 t is det]m9$ by ! ,director1 9     
consultation ) su* entities1 to         
contribute to ! a*ievem5t ( ! purposes (
 ?is ,act2 &  7,b7 includes ! ,new      
,york-,new ,j]sey ,h>bor  ,e/u>y        
,program 7,,hep7 ,action ,ag5da1 !      
,hudson ,r>itan ,compreh5sive           
,re/oration ,plan1 ! ,hudson ,riv]      
,compreh5sive ,re/oration ,plan1 !      
,hudson ,riv] ,e/u>y ,program ,action   
,ag5da1 ! ,mohawk ,riv] ,action ,ag5da1 
! ,su/a9able ,r>itan ,riv] ,initiative  
,action ,plan1 ! ,l[] ,passaic & ,bronx 
,h>lem ,f$]al ,urban ,wat]s ,p>tn]%ip   
,workplans1 ! ,new ,j]sey ,sports &     
,exhibition ,au?ority ,mead[l&s         
,re/oration ,plan1 z well z o!r critical
 cons]vation projects 9 ! region t      
a*ieve ! purposes ( ?is ,act4  7#b7     
,director ,! t]m ,director means !      
,director ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% &      
,wildlife ,s]vice4  7#c7 ,environm5tal  
ju/ice ,! t]m environm5tal ju/ice means 

! fair treatm5t & mean+ful involvem5t ( 
all p reg>dless ( race1 color1 national 
orig91 or income1 ) respect to !        
developm5t1 implem5tation1 & en=cem5t ( 
environm5tal laws1 regulations1 &       
policies4  7#d7 ,f\ndation ,! t]m       
,f\ndation means ! ,national ,fi% &     
,wildlife ,f\ndation4  7#e7 ,grant      
program ,! t]m grant program means !    
volunt>y ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ 
,re/oration ,grant ,program e/abli%$ "u 
section #e4  7#f7 ,program ,! t]m       
program means ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey  
,wat]%$ ,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 & wat] quality to pres]ve &   
improve ecosy/ems & ecological processes
 on :i* !y dep5d & = 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  7#aj7 
,wat]%$ ,! t]m ,wat]%$ means ! ,new     
,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$1 :i* is       
compris$ ( all l& area ^: surface wat]  
dra9s into ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey       
,h>bor1 ! wat]s conta9$ )9 t l& area1 & 
! e/u>ies associat$ ) ^? wat]%$s4  #d4  
,program e/abli%m5t  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,n 
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all   
e/abli% a nonregulatory program to be   
kn[n z ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ 
,re/oration ,program4  7b7 ,duties ,9   
c>ry+ out ! program1 ! ,secret>y %all-- 
7#a7 draw on exi/+ & new approv$ plans =
 ! ,wat]%$1 or portions ( ! ,wat]%$1 &  
"w 9 consultation ) applicable managem5t
 entities1 includ+ repres5tatives ( !   
,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,h>bor & ,e/u>y  
,program 7,,hep71 ,hudson ,riv] ,e/u>y  
,program1 ,mohawk ,riv] ,bas9 ,program1 
,su/a9able ,r>itan ,riv] ,initiative1 ! 
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 & o!r ,/ate & local   
gov]nm5ts1 & regional & nonpr(it        
organizations1 z appropriate1 to        

id5tify1 prioritize1 & implem5t         
re/oration & protection activities )9 ! 
,wat]%$2 &  7#b7 adopt a ,wat]%$-wide   
/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 outcomes2  7,d7 recognizes !
 ne$s ( communities lack+ 9 environm5tal
 ju/ice2 &  7,e7 e/abli%es ! volunt>y   
grant & te*nical assi/ance programs     
au?oriz$ 9 ?is ,act4  7c7 ,consultation 
,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 ! ,director ( ! ,national ,p>k 
,s]vice2  7#b7 ! ,gov]nors ( ,new ,york 
& ,new ,j]sey2  7#c7 ! ,new ,york-,new  

,j]sey ,h>bor  ,e/u>y ,program2 &  7#d7 
o!r public ag5cies & organizations )    
au?ority = ! plann+ & implem5tation (   
cons]vation /rategies 9 ! ,wat]%$4  7d7 
,purposes ,! purposes ( ! program       
include-- 7#a7 coord9at+ re/oration &   
protection activities among ,f$]al1     
,/ate1 local1 & regional entities &     
cons]vation p>tn]s ?r\gh\t ! ,wat]%$2   
7#b7 c>ry+ out coord9at$ re/oration &   
protection activities1 & provid+ =      
te*nical assi/ance ?r\gh\t ! ,wat]%$--  
7,a7 to su/a9 & enhance fi% & wildlife  
habitat re/oration & protection         
activities2  7,b7 to improve & ma9ta9   
wat] quality to support fi%1 wildlife1 &
 _! habitat1 z well z to improve        
opportunities = public access &         
recreation 9 ! ,wat]%$ consi/5t ) !     
ecological ne$s ( fi% & wildlife        
habitat2  7,c7 to advance ! use (       
natural & nature-bas$ features1 liv+    
%orel9e1 & o!r gre5 infra/ructure       
te*niques to maximize ! resili5ce (     
communities1 natural sy/ems1 & habitats 

"u *ang+ sea levels1 /orm risks1 &      
wat]%$ conditions2  7,d7 to engage !    
public1 p>ticul>ly communities lack+ 9  
environm5tal ju/ice1 ?r\gh outrea*1     
education1 & community involvem5t to    
increase capacity & support = coord9at$ 
re/oration & protection activities 9 !  
,wat]%$2  7,e7 to increase sci5tific    
capacity to support ! plann+1 monitor+1 
& rese>* activities necess>y to c>ry out
 coord9at$ re/oration & protection      
activities2  7,f7 to provide =          
feasibility & plann+ /udies = gre5      
infra/ructure projects t a*ieve habitat 
re/oration & /ormwat] managem5t goals2  
7,g7 to support l& cons]vation &        
managem5t activities necess>y to fulfill
 ! ,wat]%$-wide /rategy adopt$ "u       
subsection 7b72  7,h7 to provide        
te*nical assi/ance to c>ry out          
re/oration & protection activities 9 !  
,wat]%$2  7,i7 to monitor environm5tal  
quality to assess progress t[>d ! goals 
( ?is ,act2 &  7,j7 to improve fi% &    
wildlife habitats1 z well z             

opportunities = p]sonal recreation1     
along riv]s & %ore fronts )9 communities
 lack+ 9 environm5tal ju/ice2 &  7#c7   
o!r activities necess>y = !             
implem5tation ( approv$ plans4  #e4 ,new
 ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ ,re/oration  
,grant ,program  7a7 ,e/abli%m5t ,!     
,secret>y %all e/abli% a volunt>y grant 
& te*nical assi/ance program1 to be kn[n
 z ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$     
,re/oration ,grant ,program1 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 re/oration & protection        
activities = ! ,wat]%$4  7b7 ,crit]ia ,!
 ,secret>y1 9 consultation ) ! ag5cies1 
organizations1 & o!r p]sons ref]r$ to 9 
section #d7;c71 %all develop crit]ia = !
 grant program to help ensure t         
activities fund$ "u ?is section         
accompli% "o or m ( ! purposes ( ?is    
,act4  7c7 ,co/ %>+  7#a7 ,f$]al %>e ,! 
,f$]al %>e ( ! co/ ( a project fund$ "u 

! grant program %all n exce$ #ge 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 made available to c>ry out ?is   
section 9 an advance paym5t ( ! entire  
am\nts on ,octob] #a ( t fiscal ye>1 or 
z soon z practicable !reaft]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 ,act 
9 ! prec$+ fiscal ye>4  #g4             
,au?orization ( appropriations  7a7 ,9  
g5]al ,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$
 to ! ,secret>y to c>ry out ?is ,act    
#ej1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjba   
?r\gh #bjbf4  7b7 ,use = grant program  
,( 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