,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cdhd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #ab            
7legislative day1 ,janu>y #aj71         
#bjbb,mr4 ,book] 7= himself1 ,mrs4      
,gillibr&1 ,mr4 ,m55dez1 & ,mr4 ,s*um]7 
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,environm5t & ,public ,works  ,a ,,bill 
,to e/abli% ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey    
,wat]%$ ,re/oration ,program1 & = 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 t-- 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>ies ( t ,h>bor1 su* z !   
,hudson1 ,mohawk1 ,r>itan1 ,passaic1    
,hack5sack1 & ,bronx ,riv] ,wat]%$s & ! 
,hudson ,riv] ,e/u>y1 is ( great        
ecological1 economic1 & cultural        
importance2  7#b7 ! ,wat]%$ supports "o 
( ! mo/ d5sely populat$ & economically  

important regions 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2    
7#c7 millions ( p rely on ! ,hudson1    
,mohawk1 ,r>itan1 & ,hack5sack ,riv]s z 
s\rces ( dr9k+ wat]2  7#d7 ! ,wat]%$    
supports multiple indu/ries t attract   
ov] #fj1gjj1jjj1jjj 9 annual rev5ue     
?r\gh t\rism1 comm]cial fi%+1 &         
recreational activities2  7#e7 ! ,new   
,york-,new ,j]sey ,h>bor-- 7,a7         
contributes #h1ejj1jjj1jjj annually 9   
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local tax rev5ue2 &    
7,b7 is directly or indirectly          
responsible = #fbi1jjj jobs )           
#ij1ejj1jjj1jjj 9 annual p]sonal &      
bus9ess wages2  7#f7 ! wat] res\rces ( !
 ,mohawk ,riv] play an important role 9 
t\rism1 %ipp+1 & relat$ bus9esses &     
indu/ries 9 ! region1 ) ! t\rism indu/ry
 alone valu$ at m ?an #a1cdj1jjj1jjj    
annually2  7#g7 ! ,wat]%$ supports      
species li/$ z ?reat5$ species or       
endang]$ species "u section #d ( !      
,endang]$ ,species ,act ( #aigc 7#af    
,u4,s4,c4 #aecc71 includ+ ! %ortnose    
/urgeon & ! ,atlantic /urgeon1 z well z 

^? species ^: populations are at risk ( 
/eep decl9es2  7#h7 %orel9es1 m>%es1 &  
wetl&s ?r\gh\t ! ,wat]%$ are critical to
 flood mitigation & provide important   
habitat = a div]se array ( fi% &        
wildlife2  7#i7 ! ,hudson ,riv] ,e/u>y  
conta9s m ?an #g1jjj acres ( bracki%    
wetl&s t-- 7,a7 filt] contam9ants2  7,b7
 mitigate sea level rise2  7,c7 buff]   
coa/al communities f /orms2 &  7,d7     
provide habitat = fi% & wildlife2  7#aj7
 = ! pa/ c5tury1 ! ,wat]%$ has fac$     
s]i\s ?reats to wat] quality1 includ+   
haz>d\s wa/e1 legacy pollutants1 &      
p>tially treat$ or untreat$ wa/ewat]2   
7#aa7 _m ( ! resid5ts t b5efit f !      
,wat]%$ live 9 communities exp]i5c+     
environm5tal inju/ice1 :]e access to &  
enjoym5t ( fi%1 wildlife1 clean wat]1 & 
o!r natural res\rces has be5 impair$ or 
compromis$2  7#ab7 ! ongo+ environm5tal 
inju/ice *all5ges describ$ 9 p>agraph   
7#aa7 are comp\nd$ by ! impacts (       
climate *ange1 includ+-- 7,a7 ris+ air &
 wat] temp]atures2  7,b7 increases 9    

incid5ces ( extreme wea!r2  7,c7 *ang+  
precipitation patt]ns2 &  7,d7 ris+ sea 
levels2  7#ac7 extreme wea!r ev5ts l    
,hurricanes ,s&y1 ,ir5e1 ,lee1 & ,ida   
caus$ loss ( life & billions ( doll>s 9 
damages1 & ! %>$ coa/l9e ( ,new ,york & 
,new ,j]sey rema9s highly vuln]able to  
frequ5t /orm surges & ris+ seas2  7#ad7 
,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 solutions t
 provide environm5tal1 social1 &        
economic b5efits2  7#ae7 re/oration     
activities 9 ! ,wat]%$ are support$ by  
sev]al ,f$]al & ,/ate programs1 & fund+ 
= ^? important programs %\ld cont9ue &  
complem5t ! e/abli%m5t ( ! ,new         
,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ ,re/oration   
,program "u section #d7;a71 :i* is      
int5d$ to build on & help coord9ate     
re/oration & protection fund+ me*anisms 
at ! ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 ,tribal1 regional1 &
 local levels2  7#af7 manag+ ! ,wat]%$  

requires lead]%ip f ! ,dep>tm5t ( !     
,int]ior & coord9ation among o!r ,f$]al 
ag5cies1 #b ,/ates1 ,indian ,tribes1    
hundr$s ( c\nties1 cities & t[ns1 &     
millions ( prop]ty own]s2  7#ag7 !      
,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice  
has e/abli%$ a collaborative approa* to 
deliv]+ inclusive1 mean+ful cons]vation 
ga9s 9 urban communities ?r\gh-- 7,a7 ! 
,urban ,wildlife ,cons]vation ,program2 
&  7,b7 at l&scape scales1 ! ,delaw>e   
,riv] ,bas9 ,re/oration ,program2 &     
7#ah7 draw+ on exi/+ managem5t plans &  
exi/+ & ongo+ volunt>y cons]vation ef=ts
 9 ! ,wat]%$ w-- 7,a7 improve !         
effici5cy & co/-effectiv5ess (          
cons]vation & re/oration ef=ts2 &  7,b7 
increase private sector inve/m5ts &     
coord9ation ( ,f$]al & non-,f$]al       
res\rces4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 
7#a7 ,approv$ plan  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m
 approv$ plan means any plan = managem5t
 ( ! ,wat]%$-- 7i7 t has be5 approv$ by 
a ,f$]al1 regional1 ,/ate1 ,tribal1 or  
local gov]nm5tal entity1 includ+ ,/ate  

,wildlife ,action ,plans1 ,compreh5sive 
,cons]vation ,managem5t ,plans1 &       
,wat]%$ ,improvem5t ,plans2 or  7ii7 t  
is det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1 9            
consultation ) ! entities describ$ 9    
clause 7i71 to contribute to ! a*ievem5t
 ( ! purposes ( ?is ,act4  7,b7         
,inclusions ,! t]m approv$ plan         
includes-- 7i7 ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey 
,h>bor  ,e/u>y ,program 7,,hep7 ,action 
,ag5da2  7ii7 ! ,hudson ,r>itan         
,compreh5sive ,re/oration ,plan2  7iii7 
! ,hudson ,riv] ,compreh5sive           
,re/oration ,plan2  7iv7 ! ,hudson ,riv]
 ,e/u>y ,program ,action ,ag5da2  7v7 ! 
,mohawk ,riv] ,action ,ag5da2  7vi7 !   
,su/a9able ,r>itan ,riv] ,initiative    
,action ,plan2  7vii7 ! ,l[] ,passaic & 
,bronx  ,h>lem ,f$]al ,urban ,wat]s     
,p>tn]%ip ,workplans2  7viii7 ! ,new    
,j]sey ,sports & ,exhibition ,au?ority  
,mead[l&s ,re/oration ,plan2 &  7ix7 su*
 o!r cons]vation projects 9 ! region t  
a*ieve ! purposes ( ?is ,act1 z det]m9$ 
by ! ,secret>y4  7#b7 ,environm5tal     

ju/ice ,! t]m environm5tal ju/ice1 )    
respect to ! developm5t1 implem5tation1 
& en=cem5t ( environm5tal laws1         
regulations1 & policies1 means ! fair   
treatm5t & mean+ful involvem5t ( all p1 
reg>dless ( race1 color1 national orig91
 or income4  7#c7 ,f\ndation ,! t]m     
,f\ndation means ! ,national ,fi% &     
,wildlife ,f\ndation4  7#d7 ,grant      
program ,! t]m grant program means !    
volunt>y ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$ 
,re/oration ,grant ,program e/abli%$ "u 
section #e7;a74  7#e7 ,program ,! t]m   
program means ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey  
,wat]%$ ,re/oration ,program e/abli%$ "u
 section #d7;a74  7#f7 ,re/oration &    
protection ,! t]m re/oration &          
protection means ! cons]vation1         
/ew>d%ip1 & enhancem5t ( habitat = fi% &
 wildlife1 includ+ wat] quality-- 7,a7  
to pres]ve & improve ecosy/ems &        
ecological processes on :i* ^? fi% &    
wildlife dep5d2 &  7,b7 = use & enjoym5t
 by ! public4  7#g7 ,secret>y ,! t]m    
,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( !         

,int]ior1 act+ ?r\gh ! ,director ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates ,fi% & ,wildlife ,s]vice4 
7#h7 ,wat]%$ ,! t]m ,wat]%$ means ! ,new
 ,york-,new ,j]sey ,wat]%$1 :i* is      
compris$ (-- 7,a7 all l& area ! surface 
wat] ( :i* dra9s into ! ,new ,york-,new 
,j]sey ,h>bor2  7,b7 ! wat]s conta9$ )9 
t l& area2 &  7,c7 ! e/u>ies associat$ )
 ^? wat]%$s4  #d4 ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey
 ,wat]%$ ,re/oration ,program  7a7      
,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y
 %all e/abli% a nonregulatory program1  
to be kn[n z ! ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey   
,wat]%$ ,re/oration ,program4  7b7      
,purposes ,! purposes ( ! program %all  
include-- 7#a7 coord9at+ re/oration &   
protection activities among ,f$]al1     
,/ate1 ,tribal1 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 = ^?       
activities1 ?r\gh\t ! ,wat]%$-- 7,a7 to 
su/a9 & enhance fi% & wildlife habitat2 

7,b7 to improve & ma9ta9 wat] quality to
 support fi%1 wildlife1 & _! habitats1 z
 well z to improve opportunities =      
public access & recreation 9 ! ,wat]%$  
consi/5t ) ! ecological ne$s ( fi% &    
wildlife habitats2  7,c7 to advance !   
use ( natural climate solutions &       
natural infra/ructure1 includ+ liv+     
%orel9es & o!r gre5 infra/ructure       
te*niques1 to maximize ! resili5ce (    
communities1 natural sy/ems1 & habitats 
exp]i5c+ ! impacts ( climate *ange2     
7,d7 to engage ! public1 p>ticul>ly     
communities exp]i5c+ environm5tal       
inju/ice1 ?r\gh outrea*1 education1 &   
community involvem5t to increase        
capacity1 support1 & work=ce developm5t 
= coord9at$ 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 activities 9 !  
,wat]%$2  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 7c77#c72  7,h7 to monitor    
environm5tal quality to assess progress 
t[>d ! purposes ( ?is ,act2 &  7,i7 to  
improve fi% & wildlife habitats1 z well 
z opportunities = p]sonal recreation1   
along riv]s & %ore fronts )9 communities
 exp]i5c+ environm5tal inju/ice2 &  7#c7
 c>ry+ out re/oration & protection      
activities necess>y1 z det]m9$ by !     
,secret>y1 = ! implem5tation ( approv$  
plans4  7c7 ,duties ,9 c>ry+ out !      
program1 ! ,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 draw on
 exi/+ & new approv$ plans = ! ,wat]%$1 
or portions ( ! ,wat]%$2  7#b7 "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 includ+         
environm5tal ju/ice organizations1 z    
appropriate1 to id5tify1 prioritize1 &  
implem5t re/oration & protection        
activities )9 ! ,wat]%$2 &  7#c7 adopt a
 ,wat]%$-wide /rategy t-- 7,a7 supports 
! implem5tation ( a %>$ set (           
sci5ce-bas$ re/oration & protection     
activities develop$ 9 accordance )      
p>agraph 7#b72  7,b7 t>gets             
co/-effective projects ) measurable     
results2  7,c7 maximizes cons]vation    
outcomes2  7,d7 prioritizes ! ne$s (    
communities exp]i5c+ environm5tal       
inju/ice2 &  7,e7 implem5ts ! grant     
program4  7d7 ,consultation ,9 e/abli%+ 
! program1 ! ,secret>y %all consult )1 z
 appropriate-- 7#a7 ! heads ( ,f$]al    
ag5cies1 includ+-- 7,a7 ! ,adm9i/rator (
 ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy2    
7,b7 ! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,national       
,oceanic & ,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration2   
7,c7 ! ,secret>y ( ,agriculture2  7,d7 !

 ,director ( ! ,national ,p>k ,s]vice2 &
  7,e7 ! heads ( su* o!r ,f$]al ag5cies 
z ! ,secret>y det]m9es to be            
appropriate2  7#b7 ! ,gov]nor ( ,new    
,york2  7#c7 ! ,gov]nor ( ,new ,j]sey2  
7#d7 ! ,commission] ( ! ,new ,york ,/ate
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,environm5tal ,cons]vation2
  7#e7 ! ,director ( ! ,new ,j]sey      
,division ( ,fi% & ,wildlife2  7#f7 !   
,new ,york-,new ,j]sey ,h>bor  ,e/u>y   
,program2 &  7#g7 o!r public ag5cies1   
,indian ,tribes1 & organizations )      
au?ority = ! plann+ & implem5tation (   
cons]vation /rategies 9 ! ,wat]%$1 z    
det]m9$ appropriate by ! ,secret>y4  #e4
 ,new ,york-,new ,j]sey wat]%$          
re/oration grant program  7a7           
,e/abli%m5t ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !
 date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,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 to ,/ate1      
,tribal1 & local gov]nm5ts1 nonpr(it    

organizations1 in/itutions ( high]      
education1 & o!r eligible entities1 z   
det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1 to c>ry out !   
coord9at$ re/oration & protection       
activities describ$ 9 section           
#d7;b77#b74  7b7 ,crit]ia ,! ,secret>y1 
9 consultation ) ! heads ( ,f$]al       
ag5cies1 organizations1 & o!r p]sons    
ref]r$ to 9 section #d7;d71 %all develop
 crit]ia = ! grant program to ensure t  
activities fund$ "u ! grant program--   
7#a7 accompli% #a or m ( ! purposes     
id5tifi$ 9 section #d7;b77#b72 &  7#b7  
advance ! implem5tation ( priority      
actions or ne$s id5tifi$ 9 !            
,wat]%$-wide /rategy adopt$ "u section  
#d7;c77#c74  7c7 ,capacity build+ ,9    
c>ry+ out ! grant program1 ! ,secret>y  
%all seek to increase ! effectiv5ess (  
organizations t c>ry out re/oration &   
protection activities describ$ 9 section
 #d7;b77#b7 )9 ! ,wat]%$ by address+    
organizational capacity ne$s4  7d7      
,co/-,%>e  7#a7 ,f$]al %>e ,! ,f$]al %>e
 ( ! total co/ ( a re/oration &         

protection activity c>ri$ out "u ! grant
 program %all be n m ?an #ge p]c5t ( !  
total co/1 z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y1 ( t
 activity4  7#b7 ,non-,f$]al %>e  7,a7  
,9 g5]al ,! non-,f$]al %>e ( ! total co/
 ( a re/oration & protection activity   
c>ri$ out "u ! grant program %all be n m
 ?an #be p]c5t ( ! total co/1 z det]m9$ 
by ! ,secret>y1 ( t activity4  7,b7 ,=m 
( paym5t ,! non-,f$]al describ$ 9       
subp>agraph 7,a7 may be provid$-- 7i7 9 
ca%2 or  7ii7 9 ! =m ( an 9-k9d         
contribution ( s]vices or mat]ials4     
7#c7 ,waiv] ,! ,secret>y may waive a    
requirem5t "u p>agraph 7#b7 if !        
,secret>y det]m9es t-- 7,a7 no          
reasonable means are available ?r\gh :i*
 an applicant c meet ! mat*+ requirem5t2
 &  7,b7 ! probable b5efit ( c>ry+ out !
 re/oration & project activity outweighs
 ! public int]e/ 9 ! mat*+ requirem5t4  
7e7 ,adm9i/ration  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!     
,secret>y may ent] into an agreem5t to  
manage ! grant program )-- 7,a7 !       
,f\ndation2 or  7,b7 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
 ! ,f\ndation or simil> organization    
select$1 z applicable1 %all-- 7,a7      
receive ! am\nts made available to c>ry 
out ! grant program "u section #g = ea* 
applicable fiscal ye> 9 an advance      
paym5t ( ! entire am\nt on ,octob] #a ( 
t fiscal ye>1 or z soon z practicable   
!reaft]2  7,b7 inve/ & re9ve/ ^? am\nts 
= ! b5efit ( ! grant program2 &  7,c7   
adm9i/] ! grant program to support      
p>tn]%ips betwe5 ! public & private     
sectors 9 accordance ) ?is ,act4  7#c7  
,requirem5ts ,if ! ,secret>y ent]s into 
an agreem5t ) ! ,f\ndation "u p>agraph  
7#a71 any am\nts receiv$ 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 ,act1 & annually  

!reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all submit to     
,congress a report on ! implem5tation ( 
?is ,act1 includ+ a description ( ea*   
activity 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 #bjbb   
?r\gh #bjbg4  7b7 ,grant program ,( !   
am\nts made available "u subsection 7a7 
= ea* fiscal ye>1 ! ,secret>y %all use n
 less ?an #ge p]c5t to c>ry out ! grant 
program1 includ+ = te*nical assi/ance   
relat+ to ! grant program4