H.R. 5762

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5762 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.
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