,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #agfe ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #ad1 #bjbe ,mrs4 ,shaheen 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,ms4 ,hassan1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,ms4 ,warren1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to direct restoration and protection efforts of the #e-,state ,connecticut ,river ,watershed region1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,environmental justice community ,the term environmental justice community means a community with significant representation of communities of color1 low-income communities1 or ,tribal and ,indigenous communities1 that experiences1 or is at risk of experiencing1 higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects4 7#b7 ,foundation ,the term ,foundation means the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation4 7#c7 ,grant program ,the term grant program means the voluntary ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership grant program established under section #d7;b74 7#d7 ,program ,the term program means the nonregulatory ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership program established under section #c7;a74 7#e7 ,restoration and protection ,the term restoration and protection means the conservation1 stewardship1 and enhancement of land and water for fish1 wildlife1 and people-- 7,a7 to preserve and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on which fish1 wildlife1 and people depend2 and 7,b7 for use and enjoyment by the public4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#g7 ,tribes ,the term ,tribes means ,native ,american groups that descend from peoples indigenous to the ,watershed1 without regard to whether the groups are-- 7,a7 recognized by the ,federal ,government or a ,watershed ,state2 or 7,b7 non-enfranchised4 7#h7 ,watershed ,the term ,watershed means the #e-,state watershed region1 including the ,connecticut ,river and its tributaries and all of the land area in portions of the ,watershed ,states whose surface water drains into the ,connecticut ,river4 7#i7 ,watershed ,state ,the term ,watershed ,state means each of the ,states of ,connecticut1 ,maine1 ,massachusetts1 ,new ,hampshire1 and ,vermont4 #c4 ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership program 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 ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership program4 7b7 ,duties ,in carrying out the program1 the ,secretary shall 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 ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership1 the ,connecticut ,river ,joint ,commissions1 the ,connecticut ,river ,migratory ,fish ,restoration ,cooperative1 the ,federal ,government1 and other ,state and local governments1 ,tribal governments or organizations1 and regional and nonprofit organizations1 as appropriate1 to identify1 prioritize1 and implement restoration and protection activities within the ,watershed through the adoption of an inclusive ,watershed-wide strategy and framework4 7c7 ,consultation ,in establishing the 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 ,director of the ,national ,park ,service2 7,e7 the ,chief of ,engineers of the ,corps of ,engineers2 7,f7 the ,secretary of ,transportation2 7,g7 the ,secretary of ,commerce2 and 7,h7 the head of any other applicable ,federal agency1 as determined by the ,secretary2 7#b7 the ,governors of the ,watershed ,states2 7#c7 ,tribal governments or organizations1 including ,tribes2 7#d7 the ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership2 7#e7 the ,connecticut ,river ,joint ,commissions2 7#f7 the ,connecticut ,river ,migratory ,fish ,restoration ,cooperative2 7#g7 other public and quasi-public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in or affecting the ,watershed2 and 7#h7 stakeholders from impacted environmental justice communities4 7d7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the program are-- 7#a7 to coordinate and collaborate on restoration and protection activities among ,federal1 ,tribal1 ,state1 local1 and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the ,watershed2 and 7#b7 to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities in1 and provide technical assistance throughout1 the ,watershed-- 7,a7 to restore1 recover1 and manage for sustainable fish1 wildlife1 and plant populations2 7,b7 to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat restoration1 stewardship1 and protection activities2 7,c7 to improve and maintain water quality to support fish1 wildlife1 and fish and wildlife habitat1 including to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the ,watershed consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat2 7,d7 to advance the use of nature-based solutions to maximize the resilience of communities1 natural systems1 and habitats under changing sea levels1 storm risks1 and watershed conditions2 7,e7 to support farmland conservation and food equity1 including habitat protection1 climate resilience1 and carbon sequestration on working farms and forests2 7,f7 to engage the public1 particularly environmental justice communities1 through outreach1 education1 and community involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and protection activities in the ,watershed2 7,g7 to identify1 affirm1 and promote the practice and awareness of traditional ,tribal river and ,watershed-related cultural practices and traditional ecological knowledge2 7,h7 to improve access to open space and trails by enhancing trails in the ,watershed and on-street active transportation1 such as bike lanes1 sidewalks1 public transportation1 and bike share2 7,i7 to sustain and enhance water management for volume and flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat2 7,j7 to support land and water conservation and management activities necessary to fulfill the ,watershed-wide strategy adopted under subsection 7b72 7,k7 to monitor environmental quality to assess progress towards the purposes of the program2 7,l7 to facilitate strategic planning to maximize the resilience of natural systems and habitats under changing watershed conditions2 7,m7 to improve fish and wildlife habitats1 including opportunities for personal recreation1 hunting1 fishing1 and wildlife viewing along rivers1 particularly in environmental justice communities2 7,n7 to increase scientific capacity to support the planning1 monitoring1 and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities2 and 7,o7 to provide technical assistance to carry out restoration and protection activities in the ,watershed4 #d4 ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership grant program 7a7 ,definition of eligible entity ,in this section1 the term eligible entity means-- 7#a7 a ,state1 ,tribal1 or local government2 7#b7 a nonprofit organization2 and 7#c7 an institution of higher education 7as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a7774 7b7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a voluntary grant and technical assistance program1 to be known as the ,connecticut ,river ,watershed ,partnership grant program1 to provide competitive matching grants to eligible entities to carry out restoration and protection activities for the ,watershed4 7c7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the agencies1 organizations1 and other individuals and entities referred to in section #c7;c71 shall develop criteria for the grant program to ensure-- 7#a7 the equitable distribution of funds2 and 7#b7 that projects funded under the grant program accomplish #a or more of the purposes described in section #c7;d74 7d7 ,cost sharing 7#a7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program shall not exceed #ge percent of the total cost of the project1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,environmental ,justice communities 7i7 ,in general ,subject to clause 7ii71 the ,federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program that serves an environmental justice community shall be #ij percent of the total cost of the project1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7ii7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may increase the ,federal share under clause 7i7 to #ajj percent of the total cost of the project if the ,secretary determines that the grant recipient is unable to pay1 or would experience significant financial hardship if required to pay1 the non-,federal share4 7#b7 ,non-,federal share ,the non-,federal 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 services1 materials1 or land value4 7e7 ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may enter into an agreement to manage the grant program with the ,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 ,foundation or similar organization selected shall-- 7,a7 for each fiscal year in which the grant program is carried out1 receive amounts made available to carry out this section for that fiscal year 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 ,act1 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 the grant program in the preceding fiscal year4 #f4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this ,act such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj4 7b7 ,use for grant program ,of the amounts made available to carry out this ,act for each fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall use not less than #ge percent to carry out the grant program and to provide1 or provide for1 technical assistance under that grant program4 7c7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,amounts made available to carry out this ,act shall supplement1 and not supplant1 funding for other activities carried out by the ,secretary in the ,watershed4