and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on 
which they depend and for use and enjoyment by the 
public. 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector. 
(9) SERVICE.—The term ‘‘Service’’ means the 
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 
(10) WATERSHED.—The term ‘‘Watershed’’ 
means the New York-New Jersey Watershed, which 
is comprised of all land area whose surface water 
drains into New York-New Jersey Harbor, the 
waters contained within that land area, and the es-
tuaries associated with those watersheds. 
SEC. 4. PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT. 
(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) 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, 
and work in consultation with applicable manage-
ment entities, including representatives of the New 
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York-New Jersey Harbor and Estuary Program 
(HEP), Hudson River Estuary Program, Mohawk 
River Basin Program, Sustainable Raritan River 
Initiative, the Federal Government, and other State 
and local governments, and regional and nonprofit 
organizations, as appropriate, to identify, prioritize, 
and implement restoration and protection activities 
within the Watershed; and 
(2) 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 (1); 
(B) targets cost-effective projects with 
measurable results; 
(C) maximizes conservation outcomes; 
(D) recognizes the needs of communities 
lacking in environmental justice; and 
(E) establishes the voluntary grant and 
technical assistance programs authorized in this 
Act. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In establishing the program, 
the Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with— 
(1) the heads of Federal agencies, including— 
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(A) the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency; 
(B) the Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration; 
(C) the Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; and 
(D) the Director of the National Park 
Service; 
(2) the Governors of New York and New Jer-
sey; 
(3) the New York-New Jersey Harbor & Estu-
ary Program; and 
(4) other public agencies and organizations with 
authority for the planning and implementation of 
conservation strategies in the Watershed. 
(d) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program in-
clude— 
(1) coordinating restoration and protection ac-
tivities among Federal, State, local, and regional en-
tities and conservation partners throughout the Wa-
tershed; 
(2) carrying out coordinated restoration and 
protection activities, and providing for technical as-
sistance throughout the Watershed— 
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(A) to sustain and enhance fish and wild-
life habitat restoration and protection activities; 
(B) to improve and maintain water quality 
to support fish, wildlife, and their habitat, as 
well as to improve opportunities for public ac-
cess and recreation in the Watershed consistent 
with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife 
habitat; 
(C) to advance the use of natural and na-
ture-based features, living shoreline, and other 
green infrastructure techniques to maximize the 
resilience of communities, natural systems, and 
habitats under changing sea levels, storm risks, 
and watershed conditions; 
(D) to engage the public, particularly com-
munities lacking in environmental justice, 
through outreach, education, and community 
involvement to increase capacity and support 
for coordinated restoration and protection ac-
tivities 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; 
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(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 
(b); 
(H) to provide technical assistance to carry 
out restoration and protection activities in the 
Watershed; 
(I) to monitor environmental quality to as-
sess progress toward the goals of this Act; and 
(J) to improve fish and wildlife habitats, 
as well as opportunities for personal recreation, 
along rivers and shore fronts within commu-
nities lacking in environmental justice; and 
(3) other activities necessary for the implemen-
tation of approved plans. 
SEC. 5. NEW YORK-NEW JERSEY WATERSHED RESTORA-
TION GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a voluntary grant and technical assistance program, to be 
known as the ‘‘New York-New Jersey Watershed Restora-
tion Grant Program’’, to provide competitive matching 
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