I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6524 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a nonregulatory program 
to support restoration and protection efforts in the Hudson-Mohawk 
River Basin region, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2016 
Mr. TONKO introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a non-
regulatory program to support restoration and protection 
efforts in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin region, 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 ‘‘Hudson-Mohawk River 
Basin Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The Hudson-Mohawk River Basin together 
with the Erie Canal connects the Great Lakes to the 
Atlantic Ocean and includes the approximately 
13,400 square mile area encompassing the following 
five large sub-basins: 
(A) The Upper Hudson River sub-basin. 
(B) The Mohawk River sub-basin. 
(C) The Lower Hudson River sub-basin. 
(D) The Passaic River sub-basin. 
(E) The Raritan River sub-basin. 
(2) The Hudson-Mohawk River Basin includes 
the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, which 
is the largest metropolitan area of the country. This 
metropolitan area, together with the many commu-
nities in the Upper Hudson, Mohawk, and Lower 
Hudson sub-basins, makes the area one of the most 
densely and heavily populated river basins in the 
country, with over 15,000,000 people. 
(3) The water resources of the Hudson-Mohawk 
River Basin are functionally interrelated and their 
uses are interdependent. A dedicated program is es-
sential to provide effective communication, coordina-
tion, and cooperation among Federal, State, and 
local governments, nongovernmental organizations, 
and the private sector. 
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(4) The New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary 
is a complex natural harbor at the junction of three 
major water bodies, the New York Bight, the Hud-
son River, and the Long Island Sound. In addition, 
it receives freshwater inputs from the Raritan and 
Passaic Rivers. The health and productivity of the 
New York Bight are affected directly by the quality 
of the freshwater inputs to the estuary from the 
Hudson, Passaic, and Raritan Rivers. 
(5) The Mohawk River and its watershed drain 
directly into the Hudson River, providing the largest 
freshwater input to the brackish water mix that 
characterizes the Hudson River Estuary and sup-
ports a biologically rich and productive ecosystem. 
(6) The Mohawk River is integrated with the 
Erie Canal along much of its channel, tying the op-
eration of the canal system to the health of the Mo-
hawk and Hudson Rivers. 
(7) Individuals in many communities through-
out the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin have experi-
enced devastating flooding that has led to tremen-
dous costs for homeowners, businesses, and State 
and local governments. A holistic approach to river 
and stream monitoring, updated floodplain maps, 
and development of floodplain management strate-
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gies based upon improved understanding of the 
Hudson-Mohawk River Basin’s hydrology would 
make communities safer and more resilient to flood 
events. 
(8) Climate change is occurring and, as a re-
sult, sea level rise along the United States eastern 
coastline will increase the vulnerability of coastal 
communities to storm surge and flooding in the New 
York-New Jersey harbors and along the major rivers 
in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin. 
(9) Each of the subwatersheds of the Hudson- 
Mohawk River Basin receives the support of pro-
grams administered by Federal, State, regional, and 
local organizations. 
(10) New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, and Connecticut have a long history of 
achievements working together on resource manage-
ment issues through their memberships in the Dela-
ware River Basin Commission, the Susquehanna 
River Basin Commission, the Appalachian Regional 
Commission, the New England Interstate Water Pol-
lution Control Commission, and the Lake Champlain 
Basin Program. 
(11) The impacts experienced as a result of re-
cent hurricanes and storms illustrate the need for 
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integrated, basin-wide planning to address water 
management challenges and vulnerability to flooding. 
(12) Protecting wetlands, expanding use of 
green infrastructure, strengthening dams and levees, 
and upgrading wastewater and water treatment in-
frastructure will be necessary to reduce the impacts 
of extreme weather events and maintain water qual-
ity and public health. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) BASIN
STATE.—The term ‘‘Basin State’’ 
means each of the States of New York, New Jersey, 
Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. 
(2) GRANT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘grant pro-
gram’’ means the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin 
grant program established under section 5. 
(3) HUDSON-MOHAWK RIVER BASIN.—The term 
‘‘Hudson-Mohawk River Basin’’ means the area of 
drainage of the Hudson, Mohawk, Passaic, and 
Raritan Rivers and their tributaries into the New 
York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary. 
(4) RESTORATION
AND
PROTECTION.—The 
term ‘‘restoration and protection’’ means the con-
servation, stewardship, and enhancement of habitat 
for fish and wildlife to preserve and improve eco-
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systems and ecological processes on which they de-
pend, and for use and enjoyment by the public. 
(5) RESTORATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘res-
toration program’’ means the Hudson-Mohawk River 
Basin restoration program established under section 
4. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(7) WATER RESOURCES.—The term ‘‘water re-
sources’’ means all surface waters and ground 
waters contained or otherwise originating within the 
Hudson-Mohawk River Basin. 
SEC. 4. RESTORATION 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 
‘‘Hudson-Mohawk River Basin Restoration Program’’. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out the restoration pro-
gram, the Secretary shall— 
(1) draw on existing and new management 
plans for the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin, or por-
tions of the Basin, and work in consultation with ap-
plicable management entities, including representa-
tives of the Federal Government, State and local 
governments, and regional and nonprofit organiza-
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tions, as appropriate, to identify, prioritize, and im-
plement water resources activities within the Basin; 
(2) adopt a Basin-wide strategy that— 
(A) coordinates activities being undertaken 
by the Basin States, advisory committees, local 
governments, institutions of higher education, 
and nongovernmental organizations to address 
environmental, economic, and cultural issues as-
sociated with the management and use of water 
resources in the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; 
and 
(B) supports the implementation of a 
shared set of science-based restoration and pro-
tection activities developed in accordance with 
paragraph (1); and 
(3) establish the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin 
grant program in accordance with section 5. 
(c) COORDINATION.—In establishing the restoration 
program, the Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, 
with— 
(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; 
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(C) the Chief of the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service; 
(D) the Chief of Engineers of the Corps of 
Engineers; and 
(E) the head of any other applicable agen-
cy; 
(2) the Governors of the Basin States; 
(3) other public agencies and organizations with 
authority for the planning and implementation of 
conservation strategies in the Hudson-Mohawk River 
Basin; 
(4) institutions of higher education and non-
governmental organizations; and 
(5) other parties as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
(d) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the restoration pro-
gram include— 
(1) addressing the management, development, 
conservation, and use of water resources throughout 
the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; 
(2) coordinating restoration and protection ac-
tivities among Federal, State, local, and regional en-
tities and conservation partners throughout the 
Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; 
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(3) carrying out coordinated restoration and 
protection activities and providing for technical as-
sistance throughout the Hudson-Mohawk River 
Basin and Basin States— 
(A) to sustain and enhance fish and wild-
life habitat restoration and protection activities; 
(B) to improve and maintain water quality 
to support fish and wildlife, as well as the habi-
tats of fish and wildlife, and drinking water; 
(C) to sustain and enhance water manage-
ment for volume and flood damage mitigation 
improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habi-
tat; 
(D) to improve opportunities for public ac-
cess and recreation in the Hudson-Mohawk 
River Basin consistent with the ecological needs 
of fish and wildlife habitat; 
(E) to facilitate strategic planning to maxi-
mize the resilience of natural systems and habi-
tats under changing watershed conditions; 
(F) to engage the public through outreach, 
education, and citizen involvement; and 
(G) to increase scientific capacity to sup-
port the planning, monitoring, and research ac-
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tivities necessary to carry out coordinated res-
toration and protection activities; 
(4) maintaining an inventory of historic and 
cultural resources of the Hudson-Mohawk River 
Basin and identifying projects to provide for cultural 
enrichment, preservation of cultural resources, public 
education about local heritage and historical signifi-
cance of properties, canals, and historic sites within 
the Hudson-Mohawk River Basin; and 
(5) providing a mechanism to promote commu-
nication and coordination among the organizations 
engaged in water resource management activities to 
promote collaborative working relationships among 
all entities working in the Hudson-Mohawk River 
Basin. 
SEC. 5. GRANTS AND ASSISTANCE. 
(a) HUDSON-MOHAWK RIVER BASIN GRANT PRO-
GRAM.—To the extent that funds are available to carry 
out this section, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary 
grant program to be known as the ‘‘Hudson-Mohawk 
River Basin Grant Program’’ to provide— 
(1) competitive matching grants of varying 
amounts to State and local governments, nonprofit 
organizations, institutions of higher education, and 
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other eligible entities to carry out activities described 
in section 4(d); and 
(2) technical assistance to grant recipients. 
(b) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in consultation with 
the organizations described in section 4(c), shall develop 
criteria for the grant program to help ensure that activi-
ties funded under this section accomplish one or more of 
the purposes identified in section 4(d) and advance the 
implementation of priority actions or needs identified in 
the Basin-wide strategy adopted under section 4(b)(2). 
(c) COST SHARING.— 
(1) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of 
the cost of a project funded under the grant pro-
gram shall be determined by the Secretary and shall 
not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the activ-
ity. 
(2) NON-FEDERAL
SHARE.—The non-Federal 
share of the cost of a project funded under the grant 
program may be provided in cash or in the form of 
an in-kind contribution of services or materials. 
SEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORTS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a report on the implementation 
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of this Act, including a description of each project that 
has received funding under this Act. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $25,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2017 through 2023. 
(b) USE.—Of any amount made available under this 
section for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use at least 
75 percent to carry out the grant program and to provide, 
or provide for, technical assistance under such program. 
Æ 
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