grant to, or otherwise enter into an agreement 
with, any non-Federal entity (including any 
State, local, or Tribal governmental entity, non-
profit organization, institution of higher edu-
cation, or individual) that the Program Director 
or agency head determines is qualified to carry 
out a project or activity described in paragraph 
(2). 
‘‘(5) PROJECT SELECTION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
Ohio River Basin Restoration Program, the 
Program Director shall collaborate with rel-
evant Federal agencies to select projects and 
activities to be implemented pursuant to this 
section using appropriate principles and cri-
teria, including— 
‘‘(i) the selection of projects and ac-
tivities that are equitably distributed 
throughout the Ohio River Basin; 
‘‘(ii) the ability of a project or activity 
to achieve strategic and measurable envi-
ronmental outcomes; 
‘‘(iii) the recognition that projects and 
activities may provide benefits to local or 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:57 Jan 22, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H10432.IH
H10432
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
regional communities, or to the entire Ohio 
River Basin; 
‘‘(iv) the feasibility of prompt imple-
mentation, timely achievement of measur-
able results, and resource leveraging; and 
‘‘(v) the opportunity to improve inter-
agency, 
intergovernmental, 
and 
inter-
organizational coordination and collabora-
tion to reduce duplication and improve 
measurable environmental outcomes. 
‘‘(B) COMPATIBILITY.—The Program Di-
rector shall ensure that projects and activities 
carried out under this section are compatible 
with— 
‘‘(i) the ability of the Corps of Engi-
neers to maintain navigation in the Ohio 
River; and 
‘‘(ii) the structural integrity or effec-
tiveness of Federal, State, local, or Tribal 
disaster risk reduction infrastructure. 
‘‘(d) ACTIONABLE GOALS AND ACTION PLAN.— 
‘‘(1) ACTIONABLE
GOALS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this section, the 
Program Director shall develop actionable goals for 
the Ohio River Basin Restoration Program, which 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:57 Jan 22, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H10432.IH
H10432
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
shall be measurable and shall include criteria for 
measuring their success in making progress toward 
restoring the ecological health and resilience of the 
Ohio River Basin. 
‘‘(2) ACTION PLAN.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Pro-
gram Director shall develop an action plan for ad-
vancing the actionable goals developed under para-
graph (1). 
‘‘(3) CONTENTS.—The Program Director shall 
include in the action plan developed under para-
graph (2)— 
‘‘(A) a description of existing Federal, 
State, Tribal, and regional commissions, and re-
gional plans, programs, and activities affecting 
the Ohio River Basin, that may be used to ad-
vance the Ohio River Basin Restoration Pro-
gram; 
‘‘(B) recommendations for a comprehensive 
approach to advancing systemic, large-scale res-
toration of the Ohio River Basin that, where 
appropriate, leverages existing Federal and 
State programs; 
‘‘(C) a multi-year plan that identifies spe-
cific objectives with corresponding commitments 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:57 Jan 22, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H10432.IH
H10432
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
for activities, research, and measures for 
progress; and 
‘‘(D) a plan to monitor the implementation 
of any specific projects or activities identified in 
the action plan. 
‘‘(4) PROJECT
RECOMMENDATIONS.—The ac-
tion plan may include recommendations for specific 
projects or activities that advance the action plan 
objectives, including timelines, anticipated costs, and 
the identification of entities responsible for the im-
plementation of such projects or activities. 
‘‘(5) UPDATES.—Not less often than once every 
5 years, the Program Director shall review and up-
date the actionable goals and action plan developed 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(6) COORDINATION AND CONSULTATION.—In 
developing and updating the actionable goals and ac-
tion plan under this subsection, the Program Direc-
tor shall— 
‘‘(A) consult with Ohio River States, Trib-
al Governments within those States, the Sec-
retary of the Interior, the Chief of Engineers, 
and the Secretary of Agriculture; 
‘‘(B) engage with relevant Federal agen-
cies, local governments, nongovernmental orga-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:57 Jan 22, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H10432.IH
H10432
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
nizations, institutions of higher education, 
interstate compact agencies, and members of 
the public; 
‘‘(C) provide public notice and an oppor-
tunity for comment; and 
‘‘(D) engage an independent, scientific 
panel to review the scientific credibility of the 
action plan to optimize the likelihood of suc-
cessful restoration at appropriate scales. 
‘‘(e) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
‘‘(2) TRANSFER OF FUNDS TO FEDERAL ENTI-
TIES.—With funds made available to carry out this 
section for each fiscal year, the Administrator 
may— 
‘‘(A) transfer funds to the head of any rel-
evant Federal agency, with the concurrence of 
the head of such agency, to carry out activities 
in accordance with this section; and 
‘‘(B) enter into an interagency agreement 
with the head of any relevant Federal agency to 
carry out activities in accordance with this sec-
tion. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:57 Jan 22, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H10432.IH
H10432
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
‘‘(3) LIMITATIONS.—No funds made available 
to carry out this section may be used for any water 
infrastructure activity for which financial assistance 
is received— 
‘‘(A) from a State water pollution control 
revolving fund established under section 603; 
‘‘(B) from a State drinking water revolving 
loan fund established under section 1452 of the 
Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12); 
or 
‘‘(C) pursuant to the Water Infrastructure 
Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 
3901 et seq.). 
‘‘(f) BUDGET ITEM.—The Administrator shall, in the 
Agency’s annual budget submission to Congress, include 
a funding request for the Ohio River Basin Restoration 
Program as a separate budget line item.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:57 Jan 22, 2025
Jkt 059200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H10432.IH
H10432
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS