I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2982 
To establish the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 27, 2023 
Mr. TONKO (for himself, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. SMITH of New 
Jersey, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. NADLER, Mr. LAWLER, 
Mr. PAYNE, Mr. MOLINARO, Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ, and Mr. KEAN of New 
Jersey) 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 Representa-
tives 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’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) APPROVED PLAN.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘approved 
plan’’ means any plan for management of the 
Watershed— 
(i) that has been approved by a Fed-
eral, regional, State, Tribal, or local gov-
ernmental entity, including State Wildlife 
Action Plans, Comprehensive Conservation 
Management Plans, and Watershed Im-
provement Plans; or 
(ii) that is determined by the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the entities de-
scribed in clause (i), to contribute to the 
achievement of the purposes of this Act. 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘approved 
plan’’ includes— 
(i) the New York-New Jersey Harbor 
& Estuary Program (HEP) Action Agen-
da; 
(ii) the Hudson Raritan Comprehen-
sive Restoration Plan; 
(iii) the Hudson River Comprehensive 
Restoration Plan; 
(iv) the Hudson River Estuary Pro-
gram Action Agenda; 
(v) the Mohawk River Action Agenda; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(vi) the Sustainable Raritan River Ini-
tiative Action Plan; 
(vii) the Lower Passaic and Bronx & 
Harlem Federal Urban Waters Partnership 
Workplans; 
(viii) the New Jersey Sports and Ex-
hibition Authority Meadowlands Restora-
tion 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 ‘‘en-
vironmental justice’’, with respect to the develop-
ment, implementation, and enforcement of environ-
mental 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 pro-
gram’’ means the voluntary New York-New Jersey 
Watershed Restoration Grant Program established 
under section 4(a). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration 
Program established under section 3(a). 
(6) RESTORATION
AND
PROTECTION.—The 
term ‘‘restoration and protection’’ means the con-
servation, stewardship, and enhancement of habitat 
for fish and wildlife, including water quality— 
(A) to preserve and improve ecosystems 
and ecological processes on which those fish and 
wildlife depend; and 
(B) for use and enjoyment by the public. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice. 
(8) 
WATERSHED.—The 
term 
‘‘Watershed’’ 
means the New York-New Jersey Watershed, which 
is composed of— 
(A) all land area the surface water of 
which drains into the New York-New Jersey 
Harbor; 
(B) the waters contained within that land 
area; and 
(C) the estuaries associated with those wa-
tersheds. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
SEC. 3. NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY WATERSHED RESTORA-
TION 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 ac-
tivities among Federal, State, Tribal, local, and re-
gional entities and conservation partners throughout 
the Watershed; 
(2) carrying out coordinated restoration and 
protection activities, and providing for technical as-
sistance for those activities, throughout the Water-
shed— 
(A) to sustain and enhance fish and wild-
life habitat; 
(B) to improve and maintain water quality 
to support fish, wildlife, and their habitats, as 
well as to improve opportunities for public ac-
cess 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 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
living shorelines and other green infrastructure 
techniques, to maximize the resilience of com-
munities, natural systems, and habitats experi-
encing the impacts of climate change; 
(D) to engage the public, particularly com-
munities experiencing environmental injustice, 
through outreach, education, and community 
involvement to increase capacity, support, and 
workforce development for coordinated restora-
tion and protection activities in the Watershed; 
(E) to increase scientific capacity to sup-
port the planning, monitoring, and research ac-
tivities necessary to carry out coordinated res-
toration and protection activities in the Water-
shed; 
(F) to provide for feasibility and planning 
studies for green infrastructure projects that 
achieve habitat restoration and stormwater 
management goals; 
(G) to support land conservation and man-
agement activities necessary to fulfill the Wa-
tershed-wide strategy adopted under subsection 
(c)(3); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(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 commu-
nities experiencing environmental injustice; and 
(3) carrying out restoration and protection ac-
tivities necessary, as determined by the Secretary, 
for the implementation of approved plans. 
(c) DUTIES.—In carrying out the program, the Sec-
retary shall— 
(1) draw on existing and new approved plans 
for the Watershed, or portions of the Watershed; 
(2) work in consultation with applicable man-
agement 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 jus-
tice organizations, as appropriate, to identify, 
prioritize, and implement restoration and protection 
activities within the Watershed; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(3) adopt a Watershed-wide strategy that— 
(A) supports the implementation of a 
shared set of science-based restoration and pro-
tection activities developed in accordance with 
paragraph (2); 
(B) targets cost-effective projects with 
measurable results; 
(C) maximizes conservation outcomes; 
(D) prioritizes the needs of communities 
experiencing environmental injustice; and 
(E) implements the grant program. 
(d) CONSULTATION.—In establishing the program, 
the Secretary shall consult with, as appropriate— 
(1) the heads of Federal agencies, including— 
(A) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency; 
(B) the Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration; 
(C) the Secretary of Agriculture; 
(D) the Director of the National Park 
Service; and 
(E) the heads of such other Federal agen-
cies as the Secretary determines to be appro-
priate; 
(2) the Governor of New York; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
(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 & Estu-
ary Program; and 
(7) other public agencies, Indian Tribes, and 
organizations with authority for the planning and 
implementation of conservation strategies in the Wa-
tershed, as determined appropriate by the Secretary. 
SEC. 4. NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY WATERSHED RESTORA-
TION GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
tablish a voluntary grant and technical assistance pro-
gram, to be known as the ‘‘New York-New Jersey Water-
shed 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 ac-
tivities described in section 3(b)(2). 
(b) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in consultation with 
the individuals and entities referred to in section 3(d), 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:35 May 06, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2982.IH
H2982
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB