,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #beia ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bf1 #bjai ,mr4 ,van ,hollen 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,capito1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,carper1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,manchin1 and ,mr4 ,casey7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to authorize the ,secretary of the ,interior to establish a program to restore and protect the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,chesapeake ,watershed ,investments for ,landscape ,defense ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,chesapeake ,bay agreements ,the term ,chesapeake ,bay agreements means the formal1 voluntary agreements-- 7,a7 executed to achieve the goal of restoring and protecting the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed ecosystem and the living resources of the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed ecosystem2 and 7,b7 signed by the ,chesapeake ,executive ,council4 7#b7 ,chesapeake ,bay program ,the term ,chesapeake ,bay program means the program directed by the ,chesapeake ,executive ,council in accordance with the ,chesapeake ,bay agreements4 7#c7 ,chesapeake ,bay watershed ,the term ,chesapeake ,bay watershed means the region that covers-- 7,a7 the ,chesapeake ,bay2 7,b7 the portions of the ,states of ,delaware1 ,maryland1 ,new ,york1 ,pennsylvania1 ,virginia1 and ,west ,virginia that drain into the ,chesapeake ,bay2 and 7,c7 the ,district of ,columbia4 7#d7 ,chesapeake ,executive ,council ,the term ,chesapeake ,executive ,council means the council comprised of-- 7,a7 the ,governors of each of the ,states of ,delaware1 ,maryland1 ,new ,york1 ,pennsylvania1 ,virginia1 and ,west ,virginia2 7,b7 the ,mayor of the ,district of ,columbia2 7,c7 the ,chair of the ,chesapeake ,bay ,commission2 and 7,d7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency4 7#e7 ,chesapeake ,,wild program ,the term ,chesapeake ,,wild program means the nonregulatory program established by the ,secretary under section #c7;a74 7#f7 ,grant program ,the term grant program means the ,chesapeake ,watershed ,investments for ,landscape ,defense grant program established by the ,secretary under section #d7;a74 7#g7 ,restoration and protection activity ,the term restoration and protection activity means an activity carried out for the conservation1 stewardship1 and enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife-- 7,a7 to preserve and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on which the fish and wildlife depend2 and 7,b7 for use and enjoyment by the public4 7#h7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 #c4 ,program establishment 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a nonregulatory program1 to be known as the ,chesapeake ,watershed ,investments for ,landscape ,defense program4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,chesapeake ,,wild program include-- 7#a7 coordinating restoration and protection activities among ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed2 7#b7 engaging other agencies and organizations to build a broader range of partner support1 capacity1 and potential funding for projects in the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed2 7#c7 carrying out coordinated restoration and protection activities1 and providing for technical assistance1 throughout the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed-- 7,a7 to sustain and enhance restoration and protection activities2 7,b7 to improve and maintain water quality to support fish and wildlife1 habitats of fish and wildlife1 and drinking water for people2 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 ,chesapeake ,bay watershed consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat2 7,e7 to facilitate strategic planning to maximize the resilience of natural ecosystems and habitats under changing watershed conditions2 7,f7 to utilize green infrastructure or natural infrastructure best management practices to enhance fish and wildlife habitat2 7,g7 to engage the public through outreach1 education1 and citizen involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and protection activities in the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed2 7,h7 to sustain and enhance vulnerable communities and fish and wildlife habitat2 7,i7 to conserve and restore fish1 wildlife1 and plant corridors2 and 7,j7 to increase scientific capacity to support the planning1 monitoring1 and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities4 7c7 ,duties ,in carrying out the ,chesapeake ,,wild program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 draw on existing plans for the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed1 or portions of the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed1 including the ,chesapeake ,bay agreements1 and work in consultation with applicable management entities1 including ,chesapeake ,bay program partners1 such as the ,federal ,government1 ,state and local governments1 the ,chesapeake ,bay ,commission1 and other regional organizations1 as appropriate1 to identify1 prioritize1 and implement restoration and protection activities within the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed2 7#b7 adopt a ,chesapeake ,bay 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 and 7,b7 targets cost-effective projects with measurable results2 and 7#c7 establish the grant program in accordance with section #d4 7d7 ,coordination ,in establishing the ,chesapeake ,,wild 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 ,engineers2 7,e7 the ,director of the ,united ,states ,geological ,survey2 7,f7 the ,secretary of ,transportation2 7,g7 the ,chief of the ,forest ,service2 and 7,h7 the head of any other applicable agency2 7#b7 the ,governors of each of the ,states of ,delaware1 ,maryland1 ,new ,york1 ,pennsylvania1 ,virginia1 and ,west ,virginia and the ,mayor of the ,district of ,columbia2 7#c7 fish and wildlife joint venture partnerships2 and 7#d7 other public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed4 #d4 ,grants and technical assistance 7a7 ,chesapeake ,,wild grant program ,to the extent that funds are made available to carry out this section1 the ,secretary shall establish and carry out1 as part of the ,chesapeake ,,wild program1 a voluntary grant and technical assistance program1 to be known as the ,chesapeake ,watershed ,investments for ,landscape ,defense grant program1 to provide competitive matching grants of varying amounts and technical assistance to eligible entities described in subsection 7b7 to carry out activities described in section #c7;b74 7b7 ,eligible entities ,the following entities are eligible to receive a grant and technical assistance under the grant program3 7#a7 ,a ,state4 7#b7 ,the ,district of ,columbia4 7#c7 ,a unit of local government4 7#d7 ,a nonprofit organization4 7#e7 ,an institution of higher education4 7#f7 ,any other entity that the ,secretary determines to be appropriate in accordance with the criteria established under subsection 7c74 7c7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with officials and entities described in section #c7;d71 shall establish criteria for the grant program to help ensure that activities funded under this section-- 7#a7 accomplish #a or more of the purposes described in section #c7;b72 and 7#b7 advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed-wide strategy adopted under section #c7;c77#b74 7d7 ,cost sharing 7#a7 ,department of the ,interior share ,the ,department of the ,interior share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program shall not exceed #ej percent of the total cost of the project1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,non-,department of the ,interior share 7,a7 ,in general ,the non-,department of the ,interior 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 7,b7 ,other ,federal funding ,non-,department of the ,interior ,federal funds may be used for not more than #be percent of the total cost of a project funded under the grant program4 7e7 ,administration ,the ,secretary may enter into an agreement to manage the grant program with an organization that offers grant management services4 #e4 ,reporting ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 and annually thereafter1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report describing the implementation of this ,act1 including a description of each project that has received funding under this ,act4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this ,act4 7b7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,funds made available under subsection 7a7 shall supplement1 and not supplant1 funding for other activities conducted by the ,secretary in the ,chesapeake ,bay watershed4