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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3754 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3754

     To establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
Initiative to carry out projects for the protection and restoration of 
        the Mississippi River Corridor, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 7, 2024

Ms. Baldwin (for herself, Ms. Duckworth, and Ms. Smith) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
     To establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
Initiative to carry out projects for the protection and restoration of 
        the Mississippi River Corridor, 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 ``Mississippi River Restoration and 
Resilience Initiative Act'' or the ``MRRRI Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the Mississippi River flows more than 2,300 miles from 
        its source at Lake Itasca through the center of the continental 
        United States to the Gulf of Mexico;
            (2) as of 2019, the main stem of the Mississippi River 
        flows through 10 States that collectively are home to 
        55,400,000 people;
            (3) the Mississippi River provides drinking water to more 
        than 20,000,000 people in 50 cities;
            (4) the Mississippi River drives a vibrant natural resource 
        and recreation-based economy that--
                    (A) generates nearly $500,000,000,000 in annual 
                revenue; and
                    (B) directly employs more than 1,500,000 people;
            (5) the Mississippi River and its 30,000,000 acre 
        floodplain provide an ecological lifeline for all of North 
        America, supporting more than 780 species of fish and wildlife 
        and providing a vital migration corridor for 60 percent of all 
        North American birds and 40 percent of the migratory waterfowl 
        in the United States;
            (6) the Mississippi River serves as a major transportation 
        corridor for grain and cargo;
            (7) Congress has designated the Mississippi River System as 
        a nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally significant 
        navigation system, the only inland river system to receive both 
        designations;
            (8) despite the critical value of the Mississippi River to 
        the United States, the Mississippi River is in a severe state 
        of ecological decline, as documented by the United States 
        Geological Survey, the Corps of Engineers, and other Federal 
        and State agencies;
            (9) modifications to the Mississippi River have resulted in 
        the extensive loss of wetlands and complex river habitats, 
        causing profound harm to the treasured fish and wildlife 
        resources in the United States and increasing flood risks to 
        communities;
            (10) polluted runoff has drastically reduced water quality 
        and created a massive dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico;
            (11) invasive aquatic species threaten--
                    (A) the ecological integrity of the Mississippi 
                River and Gulf of Mexico; and
                    (B) the fisheries and recreation organizations in 
                the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico that rely 
                on a healthy ecosystem;
            (12) ecological degradation of the Mississippi River has 
        resulted in--
                    (A) more flooding;
                    (B) less wildlife;
                    (C) fewer jobs;
                    (D) reduced recreational opportunities; and
                    (E) higher costs for keeping communities safe and 
                ensuring that communities have clean drinking water;
            (13) the consequences of ecological degradation have 
        disproportionately harmed rural communities, economically 
        disadvantaged communities, and communities of color; and
            (14) existing Federal programs lack sufficient 
        coordination, funding, and participation with States, Indian 
        Tribes, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations--
                    (A) to address the challenges described in this 
                subsection; and
                    (B) to reverse the decline of the Mississippi 
                River.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act and the amendments made by 
this Act is to establish the Mississippi River Restoration and 
Resilience Initiative, a nonregulatory initiative--
            (1) to protect and restore the ecological health and 
        resilience of the Mississippi River for--
                    (A) current and succeeding generations of people of 
                the United States; and
                    (B) the fish and wildlife that rely on the 
                Mississippi River and the floodplain of the Mississippi 
                River; and
            (2) to build on existing efforts and provide funding for 
        projects and activities to protect and restore the nationally 
        significant resources of the Mississippi River by--
                    (A) establishing the Mississippi River National 
                Program Office;
                    (B) establishing the focus areas for the 
                Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
                Initiative;
                    (C) identifying qualifying activities for the 
                programs and projects of the Mississippi River 
                Restoration and Resilience Initiative;
                    (D) to guide the Mississippi River Restoration and 
                Resilience Initiative, directing the development of--
                            (i) actionable goals;
                            (ii) an action plan;
                            (iii) a science plan; and
                            (iv) updates to the goals and plans 
                        described in clauses (i) through (iii);
                    (E) establishing criteria for measuring the success 
                of the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
                Initiative in restoring the ecological health and 
                resilience of the Mississippi River;
                    (F) requiring the Administrator to coordinate and 
                consult with Federal and non-Federal stakeholders to 
                carry out the Mississippi River Restoration and 
                Resilience Initiative; and
                    (G) establishing the Mississippi River Corridor 
                Research Centers.

SEC. 3. MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE INITIATIVE.

    Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 127. MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE INITIATIVE.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Action plan.--The term `action plan' means the action 
        plan required under subsection (d)(2)(A), including any updates 
        to that plan.
            ``(2) Agency.--The term `Agency' means the Environmental 
        Protection Agency.
            ``(3) Community of color.--The term `community of color' 
        means a geographically distinct area in which the population of 
        any of the following categories of individuals is higher than 
        the average population of that category for the State in which 
        the geographically distinct area is located:
                    ``(A) Black.
                    ``(B) African American.
                    ``(C) Asian.
                    ``(D) Pacific Islander.
                    ``(E) Hispanic.
                    ``(F) Latino.
                    ``(G) Indian (as defined in section 202 of the 
                Indian Land Consolidation Act (25 U.S.C. 2201)).
            ``(4) Economically disadvantaged community.--The term 
        `economically disadvantaged community' means any census block 
        group in which 30 percent or more of the population are 
        individuals with an annual household income that is not more 
        than the greater of--
                    ``(A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median 
                income of the area in which the household is located, 
                as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development; and
                    ``(B) an amount equal to 200 percent of the Federal 
                poverty line.
            ``(5) Mississippi river restoration and resilience 
        initiative; mrrri.--The terms `Mississippi River Restoration 
        and Resilience Initiative' and `MRRRI' means the Mississippi 
        River Restoration and Resilience Initiative established under 
        subsection (c)(1).
            ``(6) MRRRI director.--The term `MRRRI Director' means the 
        Director of the Mississippi River National Program Office 
        appointed by the Administrator under subsection (b)(3).
            ``(7) Mississippi river corridor.--The term `Mississippi 
        River Corridor' means the portions of the Mississippi River 
        watershed (including tributary watersheds) located in a 
        Mississippi River State.
            ``(8) Mississippi river state.--The term `Mississippi River 
        State' means any of the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, 
        Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, 
        Tennessee, or Wisconsin.
            ``(9) Program office.--The term `Program Office' means the 
        Mississippi River National Program Office established by the 
        Administrator under subsection (b)(1).
            ``(10) Relevant federal agency.--The term `relevant Federal 
        agency' means any of the following Federal agencies:
                    ``(A) The Department of Agriculture, including--
                            ``(i) the Natural Resources Conservation 
                        Service; and
                            ``(ii) the Forest Service.
                    ``(B) The Department of the Interior, including--
                            ``(i) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
                            ``(ii) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
                        Service;
                            ``(iii) the United States Geological 
                        Survey; and
                            ``(iv) the National Park Service.
                    ``(C) The Corps of Engineers.
                    ``(D) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
                    ``(E) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration.
                    ``(F) The Coast Guard.
                    ``(G) Any other Federal agency the MRRRI Director 
                determines to be relevant.
            ``(11) Rural.--The term `rural' means an area that is not 
        delineated by the Bureau of the Census as an urbanized area or 
        an urban cluster based on decennial census results.
            ``(12) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal government' 
        means the recognized governing body of any Indian Tribe, band, 
        nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or 
        component reservation individually identified (including 
        parenthetically) in the most recent list published pursuant to 
        section 104(a) of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List 
        Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131(a)).
            ``(13) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
    ``(b) Mississippi River National Program Office.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a 
        Mississippi River National Program Office within the Agency to 
        carry out the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
        Initiative.
            ``(2) Location.--The Program Office shall be located in a 
        Mississippi River State.
            ``(3) Director.--The Program Office shall be headed by a 
        Director, appointed by the Administrator, who--
                    ``(A) has management experience and technical 
                expertise relating to the Mississippi River; and
                    ``(B) is highly qualified to direct the development 
                of programs and plans on a variety of issues related to 
                restoration of the Mississippi River.
            ``(4) Functions.--The MRRRI Director shall--
                    ``(A) coordinate actions of the Agency that seek to 
                protect and restore the Mississippi River Corridor;
                    ``(B) develop, implement, and update the MRRRI, the 
                actionable goals under subsection (d)(1), and the 
                action plan, in coordination with relevant Federal 
                agencies and non-Federal entities;
                    ``(C)(i) document information and updates related 
                to the development and implementation of the MRRRI, the 
                actionable goals under subsection (d)(1) and the action 
                plan; and
                    ``(ii) make that information and those updates 
                available to the public, including on a public website;
                    ``(D) facilitate engagement and consultation with 
                Tribal governments and Tribal organizations to ensure 
                Tribal needs and priorities are solicited early and 
                throughout the development of the actionable goals 
                under subsection (d)(1) and the action plan;
                    ``(E) work cooperatively with the Bureau of Indian 
                Affairs and other relevant Federal agencies to carry 
                out subparagraph (D); and
                    ``(F) submit to Congress, and make available on a 
                public website, an annual report describing--
                            ``(i) progress made in implementing the 
                        MRRRI;
                            ``(ii) the coordination of the MRRRI with 
                        other Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
                        programs;
                            ``(iii) any funds transferred to relevant 
                        Federal agencies under this section;
                            ``(iv) any grants awarded under subsection 
                        (c)(3)(B); and
                            ``(v) specific projects and activities 
                        carried out pursuant to this section.
            ``(5) Agreements.--In carrying out paragraph (4), the MRRRI 
        Director may enter into agreements, as applicable, with 
        relevant Federal agencies and non-Federal entities.
            ``(6) Tribal liaison.--The MRRRI Director shall appoint a 
        Tribal Liaison within the Program Office--
                    ``(A) to ensure enhanced interagency technical 
                support, communication, and coordination with Tribal 
                governments, Tribal organizations, and Tribal 
                stakeholders; and
                    ``(B) to carry out other duties as determined 
                necessary to meet the needs of Indian Tribes.
    ``(c) Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Agency the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
        Initiative to implement projects and activities for systemic, 
        large-scale restoration of the Mississippi River Corridor.
            ``(2) Focus areas.--Any project or activity carried out 
        under this section shall address at least 1 of the following 
        focus areas:
                    ``(A) The improvement of water quality in the 
                Mississippi River Corridor and drinking water quality 
                in the Mississippi River States by--
                            ``(i) reducing the amount of polluted 
                        runoff, excess agricultural nutrients, and 
                        sediment in the Mississippi River Corridor; and
                            ``(ii) improving source water protections.
                    ``(B) The improvement of community resilience 
                throughout the Mississippi River Corridor by restoring 
                the ability of the Mississippi River floodplain, 
                riverine wetlands, delta and coastal wetlands, and 
                backwaters to minimize and ameliorate flood and storm 
                risks.
                    ``(C) The protection and restoration of fish and 
                wildlife habitat in and along the Mississippi River 
                Corridor.
                    ``(D) The prevention of the spread of aquatic 
                invasive species in the Mississippi River Corridor.
                    ``(E) The improvement of communication and 
                partnership activities related to the focus areas 
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
                    ``(F) Monitoring, collecting, and evaluating 
                scientific data to assess the focus areas described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (D).
            ``(3) Project and activity implementation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Funds made available to carry 
                out the MRRRI may be used to implement eligible 
                projects and activities described in paragraph (5) that 
                are carried out by a relevant Federal agency or a non-
                Federal entity.
                    ``(B) Grant authority.--The MRRRI Director, or the 
                head of any other relevant Federal agency receiving 
                funds under this section, may make a grant to, or 
                otherwise enter into an agreement with, any non-Federal 
                entity (including any State, local, or Tribal 
                governmental entity, nonprofit organization, 
                institution of higher education (as defined in section 
                101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1001)), or individual) that the MRRRI Director or 
                agency head determines is qualified to carry out an 
                eligible project or activity described in paragraph 
                (5).
            ``(4) Project and activity selection.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out the MRRRI, the 
                MRRRI Director shall collaborate with relevant Federal 
                agencies to select projects and activities to be 
                implemented pursuant to this section using appropriate 
                principles and criteria, including--
                            ``(i) the selection of an equitable 
                        distribution of projects and activities along 
                        the entire Mississippi River Corridor;
                            ``(ii) the ability of a project to achieve 
                        strategic and measurable environmental 
                        outcomes;
                            ``(iii) the recognition that projects and 
                        activities may provide benefits to local or 
                        regional communities or to the entire 
                        Mississippi River Corridor;
                            ``(iv) the feasibility of prompt 
                        implementation, timely achievement of 
                        measurable results, and resource leveraging; 
                        and
                            ``(v) the opportunity to improve 
                        interagency, intergovernmental, and 
                        interorganizational coordination and 
                        collaboration to reduce duplication and improve 
                        measurable environmental outcomes.
                    ``(B) Priority.--In selecting projects and 
                activities under subparagraph (A), the MRRRI Director 
                shall give priority to projects or activities that 
                carry out actions described in paragraph (5)(B)(xi).
                    ``(C) Compatibility.--The MRRRI Director shall 
                ensure that projects and activities carried out under 
                this section are compatible with--
                            ``(i) the ability of the Corps of Engineers 
                        to maintain navigation in the Mississippi 
                        River; and
                            ``(ii) the structural integrity or 
                        effectiveness of Federal, State, local, or 
                        Tribal disaster risk reduction infrastructure.
            ``(5) Eligible projects and activities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Funds made available to carry 
                out this section may only be used to implement a 
                project or activity that--
                            ``(i) addresses at least 1 of the focus 
                        areas described in paragraph (2); and
                            ``(ii) carries out at least 1 of the 
                        actions described in subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Actions described.--The actions referred to 
                in subparagraph (A)(ii) are actions that--
                            ``(i) protect or restore naturally 
                        occurring hydrologic, geomorphic, and 
                        ecological functions and processes, including 
                        the restoration or rehabilitation of wetlands, 
                        in-stream habitats (including through 
                        reconnection of side channels and backwaters), 
                        living shorelines, or upland habitats;
                            ``(ii) remove or modify structures, 
                        including culverts, levees, and dams, to 
                        restore--
                                    ``(I) natural hydrology of rivers, 
                                streams, floodplains, wetlands, or 
                                coasts; or
                                    ``(II) the form, function, or 
                                processes of rivers, streams, 
                                floodplains, wetlands, or coasts;
                            ``(iii) permanently protect privately owned 
                        lands through fee title acquisition or 
                        enrollment into voluntary permanent wetland, 
                        flooding, or other conservation easements;
                            ``(iv) facilitate habitat restoration using 
                        responsibly sourced and clean dredged sediment 
                        material by covering the cost differential 
                        between the Federal standard for dredge 
                        disposal and the cost of transportation;
                            ``(v) relocate, elevate, or demolish and 
                        clean up flood-prone structures and carry out 
                        any related floodplain restoration;
                            ``(vi) increase water retention and 
                        infiltration through actions that promote a 
                        healthy soil ecosystem, including maximizing 
                        soil cover, maximizing soil biodiversity, and 
                        maximizing the presence of living roots;
                            ``(vii) reduce nonpoint sources of 
                        pollution and promote landscape-scale 
                        vegetative cover (including perennial grains, 
                        perennial woody crops, winter annual cover 
                        crops, perennial pasture, and other approaches 
                        to maintain year-round vegetative cover) 
                        through the implementation of voluntary 
                        initiatives developed with the support of 
                        market research;
                            ``(viii) reduce stormwater flows and 
                        inflows that contribute to combined sewer 
                        overflow events, and accelerate the adoption of 
                        urban stormwater pollution prevention minimum 
                        control measures through municipal separate 
                        storm sewer system permits issued under section 
                        402(p);
                            ``(ix) facilitate the cleanup of legacy 
                        contaminants that are not hazardous substances 
                        (as defined in section 101 of the Comprehensive 
                        Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
                        Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601));
                            ``(x) control, manage, or eradicate 
                        nonnative aquatic invasive species or 
                        reintroduce native aquatic species, including 
                        through--
                                    ``(I) investments in technology and 
                                research to combat the spread of 
                                aquatic invasive species;
                                    ``(II) the use of in-river physical 
                                deterrents or controls; or
                                    ``(III) the promotion of commercial 
                                harvesting of nonnative aquatic 
                                species;
                            ``(xi) address the disproportionate effects 
                        of the ecological degradation of the 
                        Mississippi River Corridor on economically 
                        disadvantaged communities in rural and urban 
                        areas and on communities of color, including 
                        through--
                                    ``(I) community based participatory 
                                research;
                                    ``(II) project or community-wide 
                                planning;
                                    ``(III) outreach and community 
                                engagement; or
                                    ``(IV) restoration-related job 
                                training and workforce development; or
                            ``(xii) additional actions determined to be 
                        eligible pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(B)(v).
                    ``(C) Protection against invasive plant species.--
                Funds made available to carry out this section may not 
                be used for a project or activity that proposes to use 
                a plant that has an elevated risk of becoming invasive, 
                as determined by the MRRRI Director through the use of 
                a credible weed risk assessment tool.
            ``(6) Monitoring plan.--A relevant Federal agency or non-
        Federal entity receiving funds to carry out a project or 
        activity under this section shall develop a detailed plan for 
        monitoring the implementation and ecological success of that 
        project or activity, as applicable, that--
                    ``(A) describes criteria for ecological success by 
                which the project or activity will be evaluated based 
                on replacement of lost functions and values of the 
                Mississippi River Corridor habitat, including 
                hydrologic and vegetative characteristics;
                    ``(B) identifies an entity responsible for the 
                monitoring; and
                    ``(C) includes continuation of the monitoring until 
                the project or activity is determined to be successful 
                based on documented achievement of the ecological 
                success criteria described under subparagraph (A).
    ``(d) Actionable Goals; Action Plans.--
            ``(1) Actionable goals.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the MRRRI Director shall 
        develop measurable goals for the MRRRI, including establishing 
        criteria for measuring the success of the MRRRI in--
                    ``(A) addressing the focus areas described in 
                subsection (c)(2); and
                    ``(B) restoring the overall ecological health and 
                resilience of the Mississippi River Corridor.
            ``(2) Action plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this section, the MRRRI Director 
                shall develop an action plan to make progress on the 
                MRRRI through the implementation of MRRRI projects and 
                activities under subsection (c).
                    ``(B) Contents.--The MRRRI Director shall include 
                in the action plan--
                            ``(i) a description of existing Federal, 
                        State, Tribal, and regional plans, programs, 
                        and activities affecting the Mississippi River 
                        Corridor that may be used to advance the MRRRI;
                            ``(ii) recommendations for a comprehensive 
                        approach to advancing systemic, large-scale 
                        restoration of the Mississippi River Corridor 
                        that, where appropriate, leverages existing 
                        Federal and State programs;
                            ``(iii) a multi-year plan that identifies 
                        objectives within each of the focus areas 
                        described in subsection (c)(2), with 
                        corresponding commitments for activities, 
                        research, and measures for progress to meet 
                        those objectives;
                            ``(iv) a plan to monitor the implementation 
                        of any recommendations developed under clause 
                        (ii); and
                            ``(v) a description of any additional 
                        actions the MRRI Director determines are 
                        eligible under this section.
                    ``(C) Project recommendations.--The action plan may 
                include recommendations for specific projects or 
                activities that advance the objectives developed under 
                subparagraph (B)(iii), including timelines, budgets, 
                and the identification of entities responsible for the 
                implementation of those projects or activities.
            ``(3) Updates.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not less frequently than once 
                every 5 years, the MRRRI Director shall review and 
                update the actionable goals developed under paragraph 
                (1) and the action plan.
                    ``(B) Integration with science plan.--In updating 
                the action plan under subparagraph (A), the MRRRI 
                Director shall incorporate any relevant information 
                contained in the science plan developed pursuant to 
                section 4(c) of the MRRRI Act.
            ``(4) Coordination and consultation.--In developing and 
        updating the actionable goals developed under paragraph (1) and 
        the action plan, the MRRRI Director shall--
                    ``(A) consult with Mississippi River States, Tribal 
                governments within Mississippi River States, the 
                Secretary of the Interior, the Chief of Engineers, and 
                the Secretary of Agriculture;
                    ``(B) engage with relevant Federal agencies, units 
                of local government, nongovernmental organizations, 
                institutions of higher education (as defined in section 
                101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1001)), and members of the public; and
                    ``(C) solicit input from the entities described in 
                subparagraph (B) through a formal public notice and 
                comment period.
    ``(e) Funding.--
            ``(1) Transfer of funds to federal entities.--The MRRRI 
        Director may use funds made available to carry out this section 
        for each fiscal year--
                    ``(A) to transfer funds to the head of any relevant 
                Federal agency, with the concurrence of the head of the 
                relevant Federal agency, to carry out activities in 
                accordance with this section;
                    ``(B) to transfer funds to other Federal programs 
                to be used for achieving specifically targeted and 
                measurable environmental outcomes that advance the 
                actionable goals developed and updated under subsection 
                (d); and
                    ``(C) to enter into an interagency agreement with 
                the head of any relevant Federal agency to carry out 
                projects and activities in accordance with this 
                section.
            ``(2) Transfer of funds to bureau of indian affairs.--The 
        MRRRI Director shall transfer not less than 5 percent of the 
        funds made available to carry out this section for each fiscal 
        year to the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with the 
        concurrence of the Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to 
        make grants or otherwise enter into agreements with Tribal 
        governments or Tribal organizations to carry out projects or 
        activities under this section.
            ``(3) Availability of funds to implement projects prior to 
        completion of the first action plan.--Before the date on which 
        the first action plan is developed under subsection (d)(2), the 
        MRRRI Director may transfer funds to a relevant Federal agency 
        or another Federal entity, or award a grant or otherwise enter 
        into an agreement with a non-Federal entity--
                    ``(A) to carry out projects or activities that meet 
                the requirements of subsection (c)(5); or
                    ``(B) to establish the Mississippi River Corridor 
                Research Centers required under section 4(b) of the 
                MRRRI Act.
            ``(4) Cost share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a 
                project or activity carried out by a non-Federal entity 
                under this section shall not exceed 80 percent of the 
                total cost of the project or activity.
                    ``(B) Exceptions.--
                            ``(i) Indian tribes.--The Federal share of 
                        the cost of a project or activity carried out 
                        by a Tribal government or Tribal organization 
                        under this section shall be 100 percent.
                            ``(ii) Priority projects and activities.--
                        The Federal share of the cost of a project or 
                        activity described in subsection (c)(5)(B)(xi) 
                        carried out by a non-Federal entity shall be 
                        100 percent.
                    ``(C) In-kind contribution.--The non-Federal share 
                of the cost of a project or activity carried out under 
                this section may include the value of an in-kind 
                contribution provided by a non-Federal entity.
            ``(5) Limitations.--No funds made available to carry out 
        this section may be used for any water infrastructure project 
        or activity for which financial assistance is received under--
                    ``(A) a State water pollution control revolving 
                fund established under section 603;
                    ``(B) a State drinking water treatment revolving 
                loan fund established under section 1452 of the Safe 
                Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12); or
                    ``(C) the Water Infrastructure Finance and 
                Innovation Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.).
            ``(6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section waives 
        any requirement under any applicable Federal environmental law, 
        including--
                    ``(A) this Act;
                    ``(B) the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
                (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
                    ``(C) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 
                1531 et seq.); or
                    ``(D) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 
                U.S.C. 661 et seq.).
    ``(f) Set-Aside.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the total amount made available to 
        carry out the MRRRI for each fiscal year--
                    ``(A) not less than 25 percent shall be used for 
                projects or activities that carry out actions described 
                in subsection (c)(5)(B)(xi); and
                    ``(B) not less than 10 percent shall be used for 
                projects or activities carried out in a persistent 
                poverty county that has had poverty rates of 20 percent 
                or greater, as determined by the Bureau of the Census, 
                for at least 30 consecutive years preceding the fiscal 
                year.
            ``(2) Action plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the total amount made 
                available to carry out the MRRRI for each fiscal year 
                beginning with the first fiscal year after which the 
                action plan is first developed, not more than 5 percent 
                may be used for projects and activities that are 
                eligible under subsection (c)(5) but that do not 
                address an objective identified in the action plan 
                under subsection (d)(2)(B)(iii).
                    ``(B) Priority.--In carrying out subparagraph (A), 
                the MRRRI Director shall prioritize projects or 
                activities that reduce the effects of natural disasters 
                or respond to emerging threats from natural disasters.
    ``(g) Activities by Other Relevant Federal Agencies.--
            ``(1) In general.--The head of a relevant Federal agency 
        that is engaged in, or has authority over, a program relating 
        to research, monitoring, and planning to maintain, enhance, 
        preserve, or rehabilitate the environmental quality and natural 
        resources of the Mississippi River shall--
                    ``(A) submit to the Administrator an annual report 
                describing the activities of the agency relating to the 
                MRRRI;
                    ``(B) strive to identify new projects and 
                activities to support the goals of the MRRRI;
                    ``(C) ensure that any funding provided through the 
                MRRRI supplements, and not supplants, funding obtained 
                through other agency budgets or other sources of funds 
                for activities relating to the Mississippi River; and
                    ``(D) strive to maintain, and where possible 
                increase, the base level of funding for activities of 
                the relevant Federal agency related to the Mississippi 
                River, without regard to funding under the MRRRI.
    ``(h) Budget Item.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall, in the annual 
        budget submission of the Agency to Congress, include a funding 
        request for the MRRRI as a separate budget line item.
            ``(2) Inclusion.--The budget justification for the budget 
        line item described in paragraph (1) shall include the amount 
        to support the operation and activities of the Program 
        Office.''.

SEC. 4. MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRIDOR RESEARCH CENTERS AND SCIENCE PLAN.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the United States Geological Survey.
            (2) FWPCA terms.--The terms ``MRRRI'', ``MRRRI Director'', 
        ``Mississippi River Corridor'', ``Mississippi River State'', 
        ``relevant Federal agency'', ``Tribal government'', and 
        ``Tribal organization'' have the meanings given those terms in 
        section 127(a) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
    (b) Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
        coordinate with the MRRRI Director to establish a network of 4 
        Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers within the United 
        States Geological Survey.
            (2) Location.--The network of research centers established 
        under paragraph (1) shall consist of--
                    (A) a National Mississippi River Corridor Research 
                Center located at an office of the United States 
                Geological Survey; and
                    (B) 3 regional research centers, each of which 
                shall be based out of a host institution of higher 
                education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), of which--
                            (i) 1 shall be an Upper Mississippi River 
                        Research Center located in the region from the 
                        headwaters of the Mississippi River to the 
                        confluence of the Mississippi River with the 
                        Missouri River;
                            (ii) 1 shall be a Middle Mississippi River 
                        Research Center located in the region downriver 
                        from the confluence of the Missouri River to 
                        the confluence of the Ohio River; and
                            (iii) 1 shall be a Lower Mississippi River 
                        Research Center located in the region downriver 
                        from the confluence of the Ohio River to the 
                        Gulf of Mexico.
            (3) Functions.--The functions of the research centers 
        established under paragraph (1) shall be--
                    (A) to conduct scientific research on the MRRRI 
                focus areas described in section 127(c)(2) of the 
                Federal Water Pollution Control Act;
                    (B) to consult with and advise relevant Federal 
                agencies on--
                            (i) the improvement of programs that 
                        monitor water quality in the Mississippi River 
                        Corridor and the health of the Mississippi 
                        River Corridor habitat or the establishment of 
                        such programs, where necessary;
                            (ii) the impact of projects and activities 
                        carried out under the MRRRI; and
                            (iii) any additional goals, priorities, 
                        metrics, and research objectives proposed as 
                        part of the science plan described in 
                        subsection (c)(2); and
                    (C) to consult, and, to the extent practicable, 
                collaborate, with relevant Federal agencies and non-
                Federal entities with respect to research, monitoring, 
                and other efforts to promote the restoration and 
                resiliency of the Mississippi River Corridor.
            (4) Integration with other federal activities.--The 
        Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that research and other 
        activities carried out at a research center established under 
        paragraph (1) are carried out in coordination with other 
        Federal research and monitoring activities related to efforts 
        to promote the restoration and resiliency of the Mississippi 
        River Corridor.
    (c) Science Plan.--
            (1) Mississippi river science forum.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall host 
                a Mississippi River science forum with relevant Federal 
                agencies, Mississippi River States, Tribal governments, 
                Tribal organizations, academia, and other non-Federal 
                entities--
                            (i) to share current science and identify 
                        data gaps and areas of concern relating to the 
                        ecological health of the Mississippi River 
                        Corridor; and
                            (ii) to determine the resources that are 
                        necessary--
                                    (I) to address any data gaps and 
                                areas of concern identified under 
                                clause (i); and
                                    (II) to develop an integrated 
                                science plan under paragraph (2).
                    (B) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date 
                on which the Director hosts the Mississippi River 
                science forum under subparagraph (A), the Director 
                shall submit a report on the findings from that forum 
                to--
                            (i) the Administrator of the Environmental 
                        Protection Agency;
                            (ii) the MRRRI Director;
                            (iii) the Committees on Appropriations, 
                        Natural Resources, and Transportation and 
                        Infrastructure of the House of Representatives; 
                        and
                            (iv) the Committees on Appropriations, 
                        Energy and Natural Resources, and Environment 
                        and Public Works of the Senate.
            (2) Science plan development.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date on which the Mississippi River science forum 
                required by paragraph (1)(A) concludes, the Director 
                shall develop a science plan that establishes 
                priorities, metrics, and research proposals for the 
                MRRRI.
                    (B) Submission.--On completion of the science plan 
                developed under subparagraph (A), the Director shall 
                make the plan available on a public website and submit 
                the plan to the MRRRI Director to inform the 
                implementation of the actionable goals and action plans 
                developed for the MRRRI under section 127(d) of the 
                Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
                    (C) Updates.--Not less frequently than once every 5 
                years, the Director shall coordinate with the MRRRI 
                Director and the research centers established under 
                subsection (b)(1) to review and update the science plan 
                developed under subparagraph (A).
                    (D) Coordination.--In developing and updating the 
                science plan under this paragraph, the Director shall 
                solicit input and comment from the public through a 
                formal public notice and comment period.
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