,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #agfe  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #ad1 #bjbe ,mrs4  
,%ahe5 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,blum5?al1 ,ms4  
,hassan1 ,mr4 ,m>key1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4
 ,s&]s1 ,ms4 ,w>r51 & ,mr4 ,wel*7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,environm5t & ,public ,works  ,a ,,bill 
,to direct re/oration & protection ef=ts
 ( ! #e-,/ate ,connecticut ,riv] ,wat]%$
 region1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4  ,%ort  
title  ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !        
,connecticut ,riv] ,wat]%$ ,p>tn]%ip    
,act4  #b4  ,def9itions  ,9 ?is ,act3   
7#a7 ,environm5tal ju/ice community ,!  
t]m environm5tal ju/ice community means 
a community ) significant repres5tation 
( communities ( color1 l[-income        
communities1 or ,tribal & ,indig5\s     
communities1 t exp]i5ces1 or is at risk 
( exp]i5c+1 high] or m adv]se human     
heal? or environm5tal effects4  7#b7    
,f\ndation  ,! t]m ,f\ndation means !   
,national ,fi% & ,wildlife ,f\ndation4  

7#c7  ,grant program  ,! t]m grant      
program means ! volunt>y ,connecticut   
,riv] ,wat]%$ ,p>tn]%ip grant program   
e/abli%$ "u section #d7;b74  7#d7       
,program  ,! t]m program means !        
nonregulatory ,connecticut ,riv] ,wat]%$
 ,p>tn]%ip program e/abli%$ "u section  
#c7;a74  7#e7  ,re/oration & protection 
,! t]m re/oration & protection means !  
cons]vation1 /ew>d%ip1 & enhancem5t ( l&
 & wat] = fi%1 wildlife1 & p--  7,a7 to 
pres]ve & improve ecosy/ems & ecological
 processes on :i* fi%1 wildlife1 & p    
dep5d2 &  7,b7 = use & enjoym5t by !    
public4  7#f7 ,secret>y ,! t]m ,secret>y
 means ! ,secret>y ( ! ,int]ior1 act+   
?r\gh ! ,director ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,fi%
 & ,wildlife ,s]vice4  7#g7  ,tribes  ,!
 t]m ,tribes means ,native ,am]ican     
gr\ps t desc5d f peoples indig5\s to !  
,wat]%$1 )\t reg>d to :e!r ! gr\ps are--
  7,a7 recogniz$ by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t  
or a ,wat]%$ ,/ate2 or  7,b7            
non-enfran*is$4  7#h7  ,wat]%$  ,! t]m  
,wat]%$ means ! #e-,/ate wat]%$ region1 

includ+ ! ,connecticut ,riv] & its      
tribut>ies & all ( ! l& area 9 portions 
( ! ,wat]%$ ,/ates ^: surface wat] dra9s
 into ! ,connecticut ,riv]4  7#i7       
,wat]%$ ,/ate  ,! t]m ,wat]%$ ,/ate     
means ea* ( ! ,/ates ( ,connecticut1    
,ma9e1 ,massa*usetts1 ,new ,hamp%ire1 & 
,v]mont4  #c4  ,connecticut ,riv]       
,wat]%$ ,p>tn]%ip 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 ! ,connecticut    
,riv] ,wat]%$ ,p>tn]%ip program4  7b7   
,duties  ,9 c>ry+ out ! program1 !      
,secret>y %all draw on exi/+ & new      
approv$ plans = ! ,wat]%$1 or portions (
 ! ,wat]%$1 & "w 9 consultation )       
applicable managem5t entities1 includ+  
repres5tatives ( ! ,connecticut ,riv]   
,wat]%$ ,p>tn]%ip1 ! ,connecticut ,riv] 
,jo9t ,commissions1 ! ,connecticut ,riv]
 ,migratory ,fi% ,re/oration            
,coop]ative1 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 & o!r  
,/ate & local gov]nm5ts1 ,tribal        

gov]nm5ts or organizations1 & regional &
 nonpr(it organizations1 z appropriate1 
to id5tify1 prioritize1 & implem5t      
re/oration & protection activities )9 ! 
,wat]%$ ?r\gh ! adoption ( an inclusive 
,wat]%$-wide /rategy & framework4  7c7  
,consultation  ,9 e/abli%+ ! program1 ! 
,secret>y %all consult1 z appropriate1  
)--  7#a7 ! heads ( ,f$]al ag5cies1     
includ+-- 7,a7 ! ,adm9i/rator ( !       
,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy2  7,b7 
! ,adm9i/rator ( ! ,national ,oceanic & 
,atmosph]ic ,adm9i/ration2  7,c7 ! ,*ief
 ( ! ,natural ,res\rces ,cons]vation    
,s]vice2  7,d7 ! ,director ( ! ,national
 ,p>k ,s]vice2  7,e7 ! ,*ief ( ,eng9e]s 
( ! ,corps ( ,eng9e]s2  7,f7 ! ,secret>y
 ( ,transportation2  7,g7 ! ,secret>y ( 
,comm]ce2 &  7,h7 ! head ( any o!r      
applicable ,f$]al ag5cy1 z det]m9$ by ! 
,secret>y2  7#b7 ! ,gov]nors ( ! ,wat]%$
 ,/ates2  7#c7 ,tribal gov]nm5ts or     
organizations1 includ+ ,tribes2  7#d7 ! 
,connecticut ,riv] ,wat]%$ ,p>tn]%ip2   
7#e7 ! ,connecticut ,riv] ,jo9t         

,commissions2  7#f7 ! ,connecticut ,riv]
 ,migratory ,fi% ,re/oration            
,coop]ative2  7#g7 o!r public &         
quasi-public ag5cies & organizations )  
au?ority = ! plann+ & implem5tation (   
cons]vation /rategies 9 or affect+ !    
,wat]%$2 &  7#h7 /akehold]s f impact$   
environm5tal ju/ice communities4  7d7   
,purposes ,! purposes ( ! program are-- 
7#a7 to coord9ate & collaborate on      
re/oration & protection activities among
 ,f$]al1 ,tribal1 ,/ate1 local1 &       
regional entities & cons]vation p>tn]s  
?r\gh\t ! ,wat]%$2 &  7#b7 to c>ry out  
coord9at$ re/oration & protection       
activities 91 & provide te*nical        
assi/ance ?r\gh\t1 ! ,wat]%$--  7,a7 to 
re/ore1 recov]1 & manage = su/a9able    
fi%1 wildlife1 & plant populations2     
7,b7 to su/a9 & enhance fi% & wildlife  
habitat re/oration1 /ew>d%ip1 &         
protection activities2  7,c7 to improve 
& ma9ta9 wat] quality to support fi%1   
wildlife1 & fi% & wildlife habitat1     
includ+ to improve opportunities =      

public access & recreation 9 ! ,wat]%$  
consi/5t ) ! ecological ne$s ( fi% &    
wildlife habitat2  7,d7 to advance ! use
 ( nature-bas$ solutions to maximize !  
resili5ce ( communities1 natural sy/ems1
 & habitats "u *ang+ sea levels1 /orm   
risks1 & wat]%$ conditions2  7,e7 to    
support f>ml& cons]vation & food equity1
 includ+ habitat protection1 climate    
resili5ce1 & c>bon seque/ration on work+
 f>ms & =e/s2  7,f7 to engage ! public1 
p>ticul>ly environm5tal ju/ice          
communities1 ?r\gh outrea*1 education1 &
 community involvem5t to increase       
capacity & support = coord9at$          
re/oration & protection activities 9 !  
,wat]%$2  7,g7 to id5tify1 affirm1 &    
promote ! practice & aw>5ess (          
traditional ,tribal riv] &              
,wat]%$-relat$ cultural practices &     
traditional ecological k2  7,h7 to      
improve access to op5 space & trails by 
enhanc+ trails 9 ! ,wat]%$ & on-/reet   
active transportation1 su* z bike lanes1
 sidewalks1 public transportation1 &    

bike %>e2  7,i7 to su/a9 & enhance wat] 
managem5t = volume & flood damage       
mitigation improvem5ts to b5efit fi% &  
wildlife habitat2  7,j7 to support l& & 
wat] cons]vation & managem5t activities 
necess>y to fulfill ! ,wat]%$-wide      
/rategy adopt$ "u subsection 7b72  7,k7 
to monitor environm5tal quality to      
assess progress t[>ds ! purposes ( !    
program2  7,l7 to facilitate /rategic   
plann+ to maximize ! resili5ce ( natural
 sy/ems & habitats "u *ang+ wat]%$      
conditions2  7,m7 to improve fi% &      
wildlife habitats1 includ+ opportunities
 = p]sonal recreation1 hunt+1 fi%+1 &   
wildlife view+ along riv]s1 p>ticul>ly 9
 environm5tal ju/ice communities2  7,n7 
to increase sci5tific capacity to       
support ! plann+1 monitor+1 & rese>*    
activities necess>y to c>ry out         
coord9at$ re/oration & protection       
activities2 &  7,o7 to provide te*nical 
assi/ance to c>ry out re/oration &      
protection activities 9 ! ,wat]%$4  #d4 
,connecticut ,riv] ,wat]%$ ,p>tn]%ip    

grant program  7a7  ,def9ition (        
eligible entity  ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m  
eligible entity means-- 7#a7 a ,/ate1   
,tribal1 or local gov]nm5t2  7#b7 a     
nonpr(it organization2 &  7#c7 an       
in/itution ( high] education 7z def9$ 9 
section #aja7;a7 ( ! ,high] ,education  
,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a7774
  7b7  ,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 ! ,connecticut ,riv] ,wat]%$  
,p>tn]%ip grant program1 to provide     
competitive mat*+ grants to eligible    
entities to c>ry out re/oration &       
protection activities = ! ,wat]%$4  7c7 
,crit]ia  ,! ,secret>y1 9 consultation )
 ! ag5cies1 organizations1 & o!r        
individuals & entities ref]r$ to 9      
section #c7;c71 %all develop crit]ia = !
 grant program to ensure--  7#a7 !      
equitable di/ribution ( funds2 &  7#b7 t
 projects fund$ "u ! grant program      
accompli% #a or m ( ! purposes describ$ 

9 section #c7;d74  7d7  ,co/ %>+  7#a7  
,f$]al %>e  7,a7  ,9 g5]al  ,except z   
provid$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 ! ,f$]al %>e
 ( ! co/ ( a project fund$ "u ! grant   
program %all n exce$ #ge p]c5t ( ! total
 co/ ( ! project1 z det]m9$ by !        
,secret>y4  7,b7  ,environm5tal ,ju/ice 
communities  7i7  ,9 g5]al  ,subject to 
clause 7ii71 ! ,f$]al %>e ( ! co/ ( a   
project fund$ "u ! grant program t s]ves
 an environm5tal ju/ice community %all  
be #ij p]c5t ( ! total co/ ( ! project1 
z det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y4  7ii7  ,waiv] 
,! ,secret>y may increase ! ,f$]al %>e  
"u clause 7i7 to #ajj p]c5t ( ! total   
co/ ( ! project if ! ,secret>y det]m9es 
t ! grant recipi5t is unable to pay1 or 
w\ld exp]i5ce significant f9ancial      
h>d%ip if requir$ to pay1 ! non-,f$]al  
%>e4  7#b7  ,non-,f$]al %>e  ,!         
non-,f$]al %>e ( ! co/ ( a project fund$
 "u ! grant program may be provid$ 9 ca%
 or 9 ! =m ( an 9-k9d contribution (    
s]vices1 mat]ials1 or l& value4  7e7    
,adm9i/ration  7#a7  ,9 g5]al  ,!       

,secret>y may ent] into an agreem5t to  
manage ! grant program ) ! ,f\ndation or
 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$ %all--  7,a7 = ea* 
fiscal ye> 9 :i* ! grant program is     
c>ri$ out1 receive am\nts made available
 to c>ry out ?is section = t fiscal ye> 
9 an advance paym5t ( ! entire am\nts 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 o!rwise 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  #e4  ,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* project t   
has receiv$ fund+ "u ! grant program 9 !
 prec$+ fiscal ye>4  #f4  ,au?orization 
( appropriations  7a7  ,9 g5]al  ,!re   
are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to !     
,secret>y to c>ry out ?is ,act su* sums 
z are necess>y = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbf
 ?r\gh #bjcj4  7b7  ,use = grant program
  ,( ! am\nts made available to c>ry out
 ?is ,act = ea* fiscal ye>1 ! ,secret>y 
%all use n less ?an #ge p]c5t to c>ry   
out ! grant program & to provide1 or    
provide =1 te*nical assi/ance "u t grant
 program4  7c7  ,supplem5t1 n supplant  
,am\nts made available to c>ry out ?is  
,act %all supplem5t1 & n supplant1 fund+
 = o!r activities c>ri$ out by !        
,secret>y 9 ! ,wat]%$4