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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5762 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5762
To establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 14, 2025
Mr. Tonko (for himself, Ms. Malliotakis, Ms. Velazquez, Mr.
Fitzpatrick, Ms. Gillen, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr.
Kean, Mr. Latimer, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Mannion, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Meeks, Mr.
Menendez, Ms. Meng, Mr. Norcross, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Mr. Pallone, Ms.
Pou, Mr. Riley of New York, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Sherrill, Mr. Suozzi, Mr.
Torres of New York, Mr. Van Drew, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``New York-New Jersey Watershed
Protection Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Approved plan.--
(A) In general.--The term ``approved plan'' means
any plan for management of the Watershed--
(i) that has been approved by a Federal,
regional, State, Tribal, or local governmental
entity, including State Wildlife Action Plans,
Comprehensive Conservation Management Plans,
and Watershed Improvement Plans; or
(ii) that is determined by the Secretary,
in consultation with the entities described in
clause (i), to contribute to the achievement of
the purposes of this Act.
(B) Inclusions.--The term ``approved plan''
includes--
(i) the New York-New Jersey Harbor &
Estuary Program (HEP) Action Agenda;
(ii) the Hudson Raritan Comprehensive
Restoration Plan;
(iii) the Hudson River Comprehensive
Restoration Plan;
(iv) the Hudson River Estuary Program
Action Agenda;
(v) the Mohawk River Action Agenda;
(vi) the Sustainable Raritan River
Initiative Action Plan;
(vii) the Lower Passaic and Bronx & Harlem
Federal Urban Waters Partnership Workplans;
(viii) the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition
Authority Meadowlands Restoration Plan; and
(ix) such other conservation projects in
the region that achieve the purposes of this
Act, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) Environmental justice.--The term ``environmental
justice'', with respect to the development, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies,
means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all
people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income.
(3) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
(4) Grant program.--The term ``grant program'' means the
voluntary New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant
Program established under section 4(a).
(5) Program.--The term ``program'' means the New York-New
Jersey Watershed Restoration Program established under section
3(a).
(6) Restoration and protection.--The term ``restoration and
protection'' means the conservation, stewardship, and
enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife, including water
quality--
(A) to preserve and improve ecosystems and
ecological processes on which those fish and wildlife
depend; and
(B) for use and enjoyment by the public.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
(8) Watershed.--The term ``Watershed'' means the New York-
New Jersey Watershed, which is composed of--
(A) all land area the surface water of which drains
into the New York-New Jersey Harbor;
(B) the waters contained within that land area; and
(C) the estuaries associated with those watersheds.
SEC. 3. NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a nonregulatory
program, to be known as the ``New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration
Program''.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the program shall include--
(1) coordinating restoration and protection activities
among Federal, State, Tribal, local, and regional entities and
conservation partners throughout the Watershed;
(2) carrying out coordinated restoration and protection
activities, and providing for technical assistance for those
activities, throughout the Watershed--
(A) to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife
habitat;
(B) to improve and maintain water quality to
support fish, wildlife, and their habitats, as well as
to improve opportunities for public access and
recreation in the Watershed consistent with the
ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitats;
(C) to advance the use of natural climate solutions
and natural infrastructure, including living shorelines
and other green infrastructure techniques, to maximize
the resilience of communities, natural systems, and
habitats experiencing the impacts of climate change;
(D) to engage the public, particularly communities
experiencing environmental injustice, through outreach,
education, and community involvement to increase
capacity, support, and workforce development for
coordinated restoration and protection activities in
the Watershed;
(E) to increase scientific capacity to support the
planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary
to carry out coordinated restoration and protection
activities in the Watershed;
(F) to provide for feasibility and planning studies
for green infrastructure projects that achieve habitat
restoration and stormwater management goals;
(G) to support land conservation and management
activities necessary to fulfill the Watershed-wide
strategy adopted under subsection (c)(3);
(H) to monitor environmental quality to assess
progress toward the purposes of this Act; and
(I) to improve fish and wildlife habitats, as well
as opportunities for personal recreation, along rivers
and shore fronts within communities experiencing
environmental injustice; and
(3) carrying out restoration and protection activities
necessary, as determined by the Secretary, for the
implementation of approved plans.
(c) Duties.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall--
(1) draw on existing and new approved plans for the
Watershed, or portions of the Watershed;
(2) work in consultation with applicable management
entities, including representatives of the New York-New Jersey
Harbor and Estuary Program (HEP), the Hudson River Estuary
Program, the Mohawk River Basin Program, the Sustainable
Raritan River Initiative, the Federal Government, other State
and local governments, and regional and nonprofit
organizations, including environmental justice organizations,
as appropriate, to identify, prioritize, and implement
restoration and protection activities within the Watershed; and
(3) adopt a Watershed-wide strategy that--
(A) supports the implementation of a shared set of
science-based restoration and protection activities
developed in accordance with paragraph (2);
(B) targets cost-effective projects with measurable
results;
(C) maximizes conservation outcomes;
(D) prioritizes the needs of communities
experiencing environmental injustice; and
(E) implements the grant program.
(d) Consultation.--In establishing the program, the Secretary shall
consult with, as appropriate--
(1) the heads of Federal agencies, including--
(A) the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency;
(B) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration;
(C) the Secretary of Agriculture;
(D) the Director of the National Park Service; and
(E) the heads of such other Federal agencies as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate;
(2) the Governor of New York;
(3) the Governor of New Jersey;
(4) the Commissioner of the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation;
(5) the Director of the New Jersey Division of Fish and
Wildlife;
(6) the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estuary Program; and
(7) other public agencies, Indian Tribes, and organizations
with authority for the planning and implementation of
conservation strategies in the Watershed, as determined
appropriate by the Secretary.
SEC. 4. NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY WATERSHED RESTORATION GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary grant
and technical assistance program, to be known as the ``New York-New
Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program'', to provide competitive
matching grants to State, Tribal, and local governments, nonprofit
organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible
entities, as determined by the Secretary, to carry out the coordinated
restoration and protection activities described in section 3(b)(2).
(b) Criteria.--The Secretary, in consultation with the individuals
and entities referred to in section 3(d), shall develop criteria for
the grant program to ensure that activities funded under the grant
program--
(1) accomplish 1 or more of the purposes identified in
section 3(b)(2); and
(2) advance the implementation of priority actions or needs
identified in the Watershed-wide strategy adopted under section
3(c)(3).
(c) Capacity Building.--In carrying out the grant program, the
Secretary shall seek to increase the effectiveness of organizations
that carry out restoration and protection activities described in
section 3(b)(2) within the Watershed by addressing organizational
capacity needs.
(d) Cost-Share.--
(1) Federal share.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), the Federal share of the total cost of a
restoration and protection activity carried out under
the grant program shall be not more than 50 percent, as
determined by the Secretary.
(B) Small, rural, and disadvantaged communities.--
(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii) the
Federal share of the total cost of a
restoration and protection activity carried out
under the grant program that serves a small,
rural, or disadvantaged community shall be 90
percent, as determined by the Secretary.
(ii) Waiver.--The Secretary may increase
the Federal share under clause (i) to 100
percent of the total cost of the restoration
and protection activity if the Secretary
determines that the grant recipient is unable
to pay, or would experience significant
financial hardship if required to pay, the non-
Federal share.
(2) Non-federal share.--
(A) 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 50
percent, as determined by the Secretary.
(B) Form of payment.--The non-Federal share
described in subparagraph (A) may be provided--
(i) in cash; or
(ii) in the form of an in-kind contribution
of services or materials.
(e) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into an agreement
to manage the grant program with--
(A) the Foundation; or
(B) a similar organization that offers grant
management services.
(2) Funding.--If the Secretary enters into an agreement
under paragraph (1), the Foundation or similar organization
selected, as applicable, shall--
(A) receive the amounts made available to carry out
the grant program under section 7 for each applicable
fiscal year in an advance payment of the entire amount
on October 1 of that fiscal year, or as soon as
practicable thereafter;
(B) invest and reinvest those amounts for the
benefit of the grant program; and
(C) administer the grant program to support
partnerships between the public and private sectors in
accordance with this Act.
(3) Requirements.--If the Secretary enters into an
agreement with the Foundation under paragraph (1), any amounts
received by the Foundation under this section shall be subject
to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act
(16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), excluding section 10(a) of that Act
(16 U.S.C. 3709(a)).
SEC. 5. ANNUAL REPORT.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report on the implementation of this Act, including a description of
each activity that has received funding under this Act in the preceding
fiscal year.
SEC. 6. 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 4(a).
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this Act $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2026 through 2031, of which not more than 5 percent shall be used for
administrative costs of carrying out this Act.
(b) Grant Program.--Of the amounts made available to carry out this
Act for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than 75
percent to carry out the grant program, including for technical
assistance relating to the grant program.
(c) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to carry out
this Act for each fiscal year shall supplement, and not supplant,
funding for other activities conducted by the Secretary in the
Watershed.
SEC. 8. SUNSET.
This Act shall cease to have force or effect on October 1, 2031.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
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