,,ii #aaith ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bibf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bi1 #bjbe,mr4 ,booker 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,gillibrand1 ,mr4 ,kim1 and ,mr4 ,schumer7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,program1 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 plan 7,a7 ,in general ,the term approved plan means any plan for management of the ,watershed-- 7i7 that has been approved by a ,federal1 regional1 ,state1 ,tribal1 or local governmental entity1 including ,state ,wildlife ,action ,plans1 ,comprehensive ,conservation ,management ,plans1 and ,watershed ,improvement ,plans2 or 7ii7 that is determined by the ,secretary1 in consultation with the entities described in clause 7i71 to contribute to the achievement of the purposes of this ,act4 7,b7 ,inclusions ,the term approved plan includes-- 7i7 the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor ,estuary ,program 7,,hep7 ,action ,agenda2 7ii7 the ,hudson ,raritan ,comprehensive ,restoration ,plan2 7iii7 the ,hudson ,river ,comprehensive ,restoration ,plan2 7iv7 the ,hudson ,river ,estuary ,program ,action ,agenda2 7v7 the ,mohawk ,river ,action ,agenda2 7vi7 the ,sustainable ,raritan ,river ,initiative ,action ,plan2 7vii7 the ,lower ,passaic and ,bronx ,harlem ,federal ,urban ,waters ,partnership ,workplans2 7viii7 the ,new ,jersey ,sports and ,exhibition ,authority ,meadowlands ,restoration ,plan2 and 7ix7 such other conservation projects in the region that achieve the purposes of this ,act1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,environmental justice ,the term environmental justice1 with respect to the development1 implementation1 and enforcement of environmental laws1 regulations1 and policies1 means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people1 regardless of race1 color1 national origin1 or income4 7#c7 ,foundation ,the term ,foundation means the ,national ,fish and ,wildlife ,foundation4 7#d7 ,grant program ,the term grant program means the voluntary ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,grant ,program established under section #d7;a74 7#e7 ,program ,the term program means the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,program established under section #c7;a74 7#f7 ,restoration and protection ,the term restoration and protection means the conservation1 stewardship1 and enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife1 including water quality-- 7,a7 to preserve and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on which those fish and wildlife depend2 and 7,b7 for use and enjoyment by the public4 7#g7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 acting through the ,director of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7#h7 ,watershed ,the term ,watershed means the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed1 which is composed of-- 7,a7 all land area the surface water of which drains into the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor2 7,b7 the waters contained within that land area2 and 7,c7 the estuaries associated with those watersheds4 #c4 ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,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 ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,program4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the program shall 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 for those activities1 throughout the ,watershed-- 7,a7 to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitat2 7,b7 to improve and maintain water quality to support fish1 wildlife1 and their habitats1 as well as to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the ,watershed consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitats2 7,c7 to advance the use of natural climate solutions and natural infrastructure1 including living shorelines and other green infrastructure techniques1 to maximize the resilience of communities1 natural systems1 and habitats experiencing the impacts of climate change2 7,d7 to engage the public1 particularly communities experiencing environmental injustice1 through outreach1 education1 and community involvement to increase capacity1 support1 and workforce development 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 activities in the ,watershed2 7,f7 to provide for feasibility and planning studies for green infrastructure 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 7c77#c72 7,h7 to monitor environmental quality to assess progress toward the purposes of this ,act2 and 7,i7 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 carrying out restoration and protection activities necessary1 as determined by the ,secretary1 for the implementation of approved plans4 7c7 ,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 ,watershed2 7#b7 work in consultation with applicable management entities1 including representatives of the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor and ,estuary ,program 7,,hep71 the ,hudson ,river ,estuary ,program1 the ,mohawk ,river ,basin ,program1 the ,sustainable ,raritan ,river ,initiative1 the ,federal ,government1 other ,state and local governments1 and regional and nonprofit organizations1 including environmental justice organizations1 as appropriate1 to identify1 prioritize1 and implement restoration and protection activities within the ,watershed2 and 7#c7 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#b72 7,b7 targets cost-effective projects with measurable results2 7,c7 maximizes conservation outcomes2 7,d7 prioritizes the needs of communities experiencing environmental injustice2 and 7,e7 implements the grant program4 7d7 ,consultation ,in establishing the program1 the ,secretary shall consult with1 as appropriate-- 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 ,secretary of ,agriculture2 7,d7 the ,director of the ,national ,park ,service2 and 7,e7 the heads of such other ,federal agencies as the ,secretary determines to be appropriate2 7#b7 the ,governor of ,new ,york2 7#c7 the ,governor of ,new ,jersey2 7#d7 the ,commissioner of the ,new ,york ,state ,department of ,environmental ,conservation2 7#e7 the ,director of the ,new ,jersey ,division of ,fish and ,wildlife2 7#f7 the ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,harbor ,estuary ,program2 and 7#g7 other public agencies1 ,indian ,tribes1 and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in the ,watershed1 as determined appropriate by the ,secretary4 #d4 ,new ,york-,new ,jersey watershed restoration grant program 7a7 ,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 ,new ,york-,new ,jersey ,watershed ,restoration ,grant ,program1 to provide competitive matching grants to ,state1 ,tribal1 and local governments1 nonprofit organizations1 institutions of higher education1 and other eligible entities1 as determined by the ,secretary1 to carry out the coordinated restoration and protection activities described in section #c7;b77#b74 7b7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the individuals and entities referred to in section #c7;d71 shall develop criteria for the grant program to ensure that activities funded under the grant program-- 7#a7 accomplish #a or more of the purposes identified in section #c7;b77#b72 and 7#b7 advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the ,watershed-wide strategy adopted under section #c7;c77#c74 7c7 ,capacity building ,in carrying out the grant program1 the ,secretary shall seek to increase the effectiveness of organizations that carry out restoration and protection activities described in section #c7;b77#b7 within the ,watershed by addressing organizational capacity needs4 7d7 ,cost-,share 7#a7 ,federal share 7,a7 ,in general ,except as provided in subparagraph 7,b71 the ,federal share of the total cost of a restoration and protection activity carried out under the grant program shall be not more than #ej percent1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,small1 rural1 and disadvantaged communities 7i7 ,in general ,subject to clause 7ii7 the ,federal share of the total cost of a restoration and protection activity carried out under the grant program that serves a small1 rural1 or disadvantaged community shall be #ij percent1 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 restoration and protection activity 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 7,a7 ,in general ,the non-,federal share of the total cost of a restoration and protection activity carried out under the grant program shall be not more than #ej percent1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7,b7 ,form of payment ,the non-,federal share described in subparagraph 7,a7 may be provided-- 7i7 in cash2 or 7ii7 in the form of an in-kind contribution of services or materials4 7e7 ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may enter into an agreement to manage the grant program with-- 7,a7 the ,foundation2 or 7,b7 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 selected1 as applicable1 shall-- 7,a7 receive the amounts made available to carry out the grant program under section #g for each applicable fiscal year in an advance payment of the entire amount 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 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 activity that has received funding under this ,act in the preceding fiscal year4 #f4 ,prohibition on ,federal land holdings ,the ,federal ,government may not maintain ownership of any land acquired under this ,act except for the purpose of promptly transferring ownership to an entity described in section #d7;a74 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations 7a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this ,act #bj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjca1 of which not more than #e percent shall be used for administrative costs of carrying out this ,act4 7b7 ,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 program1 including for technical assistance relating to the grant program4 7c7 ,supplement1 not supplant ,amounts made available to carry out this ,act for each fiscal year shall supplement1 and not supplant1 funding for other activities conducted by the ,secretary in the ,watershed4 #h4 ,sunset ,this ,act shall cease to have force or effect on ,october #a1 #bjca4