,,ib ,union ,calendar ,no4 #dag #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dfgg ,report ,no4 #aag-egf ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #bb1 #bjba,mr4 ,tonko introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,november #af1 #bjbb;,additional sponsors3 ,mr4 ,nadler1 ,ms4 ,velzquez1 ,mr4 ,van ,drew1 ,mr4 ,kim of ,new ,jersey1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,mr4 ,delgado1 ,mr4 ,sean ,patrick ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,ocasio-,cortez1 ,mr4 ,torres of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,meng1 ,mr4 ,bowman1 ,ms4 ,clarke of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,malinowski1 ,mr4 ,meeks1 ,mr4 ,jeffries1 ,mrs4 ,carolyn ,b4 ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,gottheimer1 ,mr4 ,pascrell1 ,miss ,rice of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,suozzi1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,new ,jersey1 ,mr4 ,payne1 ,mr4 ,norcross1 ,mr4 ,pallone1 ,mr4 ,sires1 and ,ms4 ,malliotakis ,november #af1 #bjbb,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic,for text of introduced bill1 see copy of bill as introduced on ,july #bb1 #bjba ,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 ,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 ,tribal1 or local governmental entity1 including but not limited to ,state ,wildlife ,action ,plans1 ,comprehensive ,conservation ,management ,plans1 ,watershed ,improvement ,plans2 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 ,hudson ,river ,park ,trust ,estuarine ,sanctuary ,management ,plan1 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 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 #d4 7#f7 ,program ,the term program means the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,program established under section #c4 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 #c4 ,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 prioritizes 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 and coordination ,in establishing the program1 the ,secretary shall1 as appropriate-- 7#a7 consult with-- 7,a7 the heads of ,federal agencies1 including-- 7i7 the ,administrator of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7ii7 the ,administrator of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration2 7iii7 the ,secretary of the ,u4,s4 ,department of ,agriculture2 7iv7 the ,director of the ,national ,park ,service2 and 7v7 other agencies1 as appropriate2 and 7,b7 ,indian ,tribes2 and 7#b7 coordinate with-- 7,a7 the ,governors of ,new ,york and ,new ,jersey1 along with the ,commissioner of the ,new ,york ,state ,department of ,environmental ,conservation and the ,director of the ,new ,jersey ,division of ,fish and ,wildlife2 7,b7 the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor ,estuary ,program2 and 7,c7 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 ,tribal1 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 natural climate solutions1 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 experiencing environmental injustice1 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 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 experiencing environmental injustice2 and 7#c7 other activities necessary for the implementation of approved plans4 #d4 ,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 ,state1 ,tribal and local governments1 nonprofit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 and other eligible entities to carry out activities described in section #c7;d77#b74 7b7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the agencies1 organizations1 and other persons referred to in section #c7;c71 shall develop criteria for the grant program to help ensure that activities funded under this section accomplish one or more of the purposes identified in section #c7;d77#b7 and advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the ,watershed-wide strategy adopted under section #c7;b77#b74 7c7 ,capacity building ,the ,secretary shall include grant program provisions designed to increase the effectiveness of organizations that work at the nexus of natural resource and community health issues within the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed by addressing organizational capacity needs4 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 #ge percent of the total cost of the activity1 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 7#c7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive all or part of the matching requirement under section #d7;d7 if the ,secretary determines that-- 7,a7 no reasonable means are available through which an applicant can meet the matching requirement2 and 7,b7 the probable benefit of the project outweighs the public interest in the matching requirement4 7e7 ,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 #e4 ,annual reports ,not later than #ahj days after the date of 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 ,act in the preceding fiscal year4 #f4 ,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 #bjbb through #bjbg4 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 #d and to provide1 or provide for1 technical assistance under such program4 ,november #af1 #bjbb,reported with an amendment1 committed to the ,committee of the ,whole ,house on the ,state of the ,union1 and ordered to be printed