,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aai ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #bf1 #bjbc,mr4 ,rubio introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act to authorize the ,south ,florida ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,enhancement ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,south ,florida program ,title ,i of the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #abe4 ,south ,florida 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,science ,coordination ,group ,the term ,science ,coordination ,group means the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,science ,coordination ,group established to support the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,task ,force4 7#b7 ,south ,florida ,the term ,south ,florida means-- 7,a7 all land and water within the administrative boundaries of the ,south ,florida ,water ,management ,district and contiguous near-shore coastal waters1 including the ,florida ,keys2 and 7,b7 ,florida's ,coral ,reef and the associated patch reef1 hard-bottom1 and seagrass resources4 7#c7 ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,task ,force ,the term ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,task ,force means the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,task ,force established by section #ebh7;f77#a7 of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-cjc2 #aaj ,stat4 #cgga74 7#d7 ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,working ,group ,the term ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,working ,group means the working group established by the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,task ,force pursuant to section #ebh7;f77#b77;,d7 of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-cjc2 #aaj ,stat #cgga74 7#e7 ,south ,florida ,program ,the term ,south ,florida ,program means the ,south ,florida ,program established under subsection 7b77#a74 7b7 ,south ,florida program 7#a7 ,establishment ,the ,administrator shall establish within the ,water ,division of the ,region #d ,office of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency the ,south ,florida ,program4 7#b7 ,duties ,in carrying out the ,south ,florida ,program1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 assess trends in water quality1 including trends that affect uses of water in ,south ,florida2 7,b7 collect1 characterize1 and assess data to identify existing or potential water quality problems and the causes of those problems2 and 7,c7 provide grants in accordance with subsections 7d7 and 7f74 7#c7 ,designation ,the ,administrator shall designate an individual in the ,water ,division of the ,region #d ,office of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to carry out the day-to-day operations of the ,south ,florida ,program4 7c7 ,south florida ecosystem restoration working group ,the individual designated by the ,administrator under subsection 7b77#c7 shall serve as the representative of the ,environmental ,protection ,agency on the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,working ,group4 7d7 ,grant program 7#a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,enhancement ,act of #bjbc1 the ,administrator shall establish a grant program 7referred to in this subsection as the grant program7 to carry out projects to monitor1 enhance1 protect1 preserve1 or restore water quality1 wetlands1 aquatic ecosystems1 or marine habitat-- 7,a7 in ,south ,florida2 and 7,b7 outside of ,south ,florida but within the study area boundaries of-- 7i7 the ,indian ,river ,lagoon ,national ,estuary ,program authorized under section #cbj2 and 7ii7 the ,coastal and ,heartland ,national ,estuary ,partnership authorized under that section4 7#b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity eligible to receive a grant under the grant program is-- 7,a7 a ,state agency2 7,b7 a unit of local government2 7,c7 an institution of higher education2 7,d7 a federally recognized ,indian ,tribe2 and 7,e7 an entity that is described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;c7 of that ,code4 7#c7 ,selection 7,a7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under the grant program shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require4 7,b7 ,limitations 7i7 ,location of projects ,not more than #ae percent of the amounts made available to carry out this subsection for each fiscal year may be awarded for projects that would be carried out in locations described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74 7ii7 ,other sources of funding 7,i7 ,in general ,subject to subclause 7,,ii71 in selecting recipients of grants under the grant program1 the ,administrator may not award a grant to carry out a water infrastructure activity that has received assistance-- 7aa7 from a ,state water pollution control revolving fund established under title ,,vi2 7bb7 from a ,state drinking water treatment revolving loan fund established under section #adeb of the ,safe ,drinking ,water ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;j-#ab72 or 7cc7 pursuant to the ,water ,infrastructure ,finance and ,innovation ,act of #bjad 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #cija et seq474 7,,ii7 ,exception ,the ,administrator may award a grant under the grant program to carry out a separable component of a project described in subclause 7,i7 if grant funds would be used to construct natural features and nature-based features 7as those terms are defined in section #aahd7;a7 of the ,water ,infrastructure ,improvements for the ,nation ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #bbhi;a7a7771 or to conduct an ecosystem restoration project1 that improves habitat and other ecosystem functions4 7#d7 ,allocation ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section each fiscal year1 to the extent there are sufficient high-quality project applications1 not less than #cc percent shall be used to carry out this subsection4 7e7 ,support for south florida ecosystem restoration special projects and activities 7#a7 ,interagency agreement ,the ,administrator shall1 on an annual basis1 develop and execute interagency agreements or cooperative agreements with appropriate ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal agencies to provide funding for #a or more special projects or activities within ,south ,florida on the recommendation of the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,task ,force4 7#b7 ,coordination ,the ,administrator shall coordinate with the ,administrator of the ,office of ,everglades ,restoration ,initiatives of the ,department of the ,interior to annually solicit and receive a priority list of special projects or activities that enhance the capacity of ,federal1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal agencies participating in the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,task ,force1 the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,restoration ,working ,group1 and the ,science ,coordination ,group to fulfill the mandate under section #ebh of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #aiif 7,public ,law #ajd-cjc2 #aaj ,stat4 #cgfg71 title ,,vi of the ,water ,resources ,development ,act of #bjjj 7,public ,law #ajf-eda2 #aad ,stat4 #bfhj71 and other applicable law to restore the ,south ,florida ecosystem4 7#c7 ,allocation ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section each fiscal year1 to the extent there are sufficient high-quality project applications1 not less than #ej percent shall be used to carry out this subsection4 7f7 ,education grants 7#a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,south ,florida ,ecosystem ,enhancement ,act of #bjbb1 the ,administrator shall establish an education grant program 7referred to in this subsection as the grant program7 to support educational and environmental literacy efforts focused on regional bodies of water in ,south ,florida4 7#b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity eligible to receive a grant under the grant program is an entity focused on public engagement1 environmental literacy1 or education efforts that is-- 7,a7 a ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government entity1 including a public school district and a ,tribal school2 7,b7 an entity that is described in section #eja7;c77#c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;c7 of that ,code2 or 7,c7 an institution of higher education4 7#c7 ,use of funds ,each fiscal year1 the ,administrator shall award grants under the education grant program for public engagement1 environmental literacy1 and education efforts with respect to any of the following3 7,a7 ,biscayne ,bay4 7,b7 ,caloosahatchee ,river and ,estuary4 7,c7 ,charlotte ,harbor4 7,d7 ,the ,everglades4 7,e7 ,everglades ,headwaters4 7,f7 ,florida ,bay4 7,g7 ,florida's ,coral ,reef4 7,h7 ,lake ,okeechobee4 7,i7 ,loxahatchee ,river and ,lake ,worth ,lagoon4 7,j7 ,indian ,river ,lagoon4 7,k7 ,st4 ,lucie ,river and ,estuary4 7#d7 ,selection 7,a7 ,application ,an eligible entity seeking a grant under the grant program shall submit to the ,administrator an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,administrator may require4 7,b7 ,priority consideration ,in selecting entities to be awarded grants under the grant program1 the ,administrator shall give priority to applications that seek to fund field trips for socially disadvantaged students in public elementary schools1 public secondary schools1 and ,tribal schools to access publicly protected lands and natural resources4 7#e7 ,cost-share 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the ,federal share of a project carried out using a grant under the grant program may not exceed #ej percent of the total cost of the project4 7,b7 ,waiver ,the ,administrator may waive the ,federal share requirement under subparagraph 7,a7 for projects carried out to support efforts described in paragraph 7#d77;,b74 7#f7 ,allocation ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section each fiscal year1 to the extent there are sufficient high-quality project applications1 the ,administrator may use not more than #a percent to carry out this subsection4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,administrator #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbd through #bjbh to carry out this section4 7#b7 ,administrative costs ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section under paragraph 7#a7 each fiscal year1 the ,administrator may use not more than #d percent for administrative costs4 4