I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 944 
To reauthorize the National Estuary Program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2015 
Mr. LOBIONDO (for himself, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. POSEY, Mr. 
MURPHY of Florida, and Mr. JOLLY) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the National Estuary 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. COMPETITIVE AWARDS. 
Section 320(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act (33 U.S.C. 1330(g)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(4) COMPETITIVE AWARDS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—Using the amounts 
made available under subsection (i)(2)(B), the 
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Administrator shall make competitive awards 
under this paragraph. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION
FOR
AWARDS.—The 
Administrator shall solicit applications for 
awards under this paragraph from State, inter-
state, and regional water pollution control agen-
cies and entities, State coastal zone manage-
ment agencies, interstate agencies, other public 
or nonprofit private agencies, institutions, orga-
nizations, and individuals. 
‘‘(C) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.—In se-
lecting award recipients under this paragraph, 
the Administrator shall select recipients that 
are best able to address urgent and challenging 
issues that threaten the ecological and economic 
well-being of coastal areas. Such issues shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(i) extensive seagrass habitat losses 
resulting in significant impacts on fisheries 
and water quality; 
‘‘(ii) recurring harmful algae blooms; 
‘‘(iii) unusual marine mammal mor-
talities; 
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‘‘(iv) invasive exotic species that may 
threaten wastewater systems and cause 
other damage; 
‘‘(v) jellyfish proliferation limiting 
community access to water during peak 
tourism seasons; 
‘‘(vi) flooding that may be related to 
sea level rise or wetland degradation or 
loss; and 
‘‘(vii) low dissolved oxygen conditions 
in estuarine waters and related nutrient 
management.’’. 
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1330) is amended by striking subsection 
(i) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Administrator $27,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 for— 
‘‘(A) expenses relating to the administra-
tion of grants or awards by the Administrator 
under this section, including the award and 
oversight of grants and awards, except that 
such expenses may not exceed 5 percent of the 
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amount appropriated under this subsection for 
a fiscal year; and 
‘‘(B) making grants and awards under 
subsection (g). 
‘‘(2) ALLOCATIONS.— 
‘‘(A) CONSERVATION
AND
MANAGEMENT 
PLANS.—Not less than 80 percent of the 
amount made available under this subsection 
for a fiscal year shall be used by the Adminis-
trator for the development, implementation, and 
monitoring of each of the conservation and 
management plans eligible for grant assistance 
under subsection (g)(2). 
‘‘(B) COMPETITIVE
AWARDS.—Not less 
than 15 percent of the amount made available 
under this subsection for a fiscal year shall be 
used by the Administrator for making competi-
tive awards described in subsection (g)(4).’’. 
Æ 
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