I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5216 
To direct restoration and protection efforts of the 5-State Connecticut River 
Watershed region, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 15, 2023 
Mr. MCGOVERN (for himself, Mr. COURTNEY, Mrs. HAYES, Ms. BALINT, Ms. 
KUSTER, Mr. NEAL, and Mr. HIMES) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To direct restoration and protection efforts of the 5-State 
Connecticut River Watershed 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 ‘‘Connecticut River Wa-
tershed Partnership Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE
COMMUNITY.— 
The term ‘‘environmental justice community’’ means 
a community with significant representation of com-
munities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal 
and Indigenous communities, that experiences, or is 
at risk of experiencing, higher or more adverse 
human health or environmental effects. 
(2) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ 
means the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 
(3) GRANT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘grant pro-
gram’’ means the voluntary Connecticut River Wa-
tershed Partnership grant program established 
under section 4(a). 
(4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the nonregulatory Connecticut River Watershed 
Partnership program established under section 3(a). 
(5) RESTORATION
AND
PROTECTION.—The 
term ‘‘restoration and protection’’ means the con-
servation, stewardship, and enhancement of land and 
water for fish, wildlife, and people— 
(A) to preserve and improve ecosystems 
and ecological processes on which fish, wildlife, 
and people depend; and 
(B) for use and enjoyment by the public. 
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(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Fish and Wildlife Serv-
ice. 
(7) TRIBES.—The term ‘‘Tribes’’ means Native 
American groups that descend from peoples indige-
nous to the Watershed, without regard to whether 
the groups are— 
(A) recognized by the Federal Government 
or a Watershed State; or 
(B) non-enfranchised. 
(8) 
WATERSHED.—The 
term 
‘‘Watershed’’ 
means the 5-State watershed region, including the 
Connecticut River and its tributaries and all of the 
land area in portions of the Watershed States whose 
surface water drains into the Connecticut River. 
(9) WATERSHED
STATE.—The term ‘‘Water-
shed State’’ means each of the States of Con-
necticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 
and Vermont. 
SEC. 3. CONNECTICUT RIVER WATERSHED PARTNERSHIP 
PROGRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
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tablish a nonregulatory program, to be known as the 
‘‘Connecticut River Watershed Partnership program’’. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out the program, the Sec-
retary shall draw on existing and new approved plans for 
the Watershed, or portions of the Watershed, and work 
in consultation with applicable management entities, in-
cluding representatives of the Friends of the Silvio O. 
Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the Connecticut 
River Joint Commissions, the Connecticut River Atlantic 
Salmon Commission and its successor organization the 
Connecticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Coopera-
tive, the Federal Government, and other State and local 
governments, Tribal governments or organizations, and 
regional and nonprofit organizations, as appropriate, to 
identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protec-
tion activities within the Watershed through the adoption 
of an inclusive Watershed-wide strategy and framework. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In establishing the 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 Director of the National Park 
Service; 
(E) the Chief of Engineers of the Corps of 
Engineers; 
(F) the Secretary of Transportation; 
(G) the Secretary of Commerce; and 
(H) the head of any other applicable Fed-
eral agency, as determined by the Secretary; 
(2) the Governors of the Watershed States; 
(3) Tribal governments or organizations, includ-
ing Tribes; 
(4) the Friends of the Silvio O. Conte National 
Fish and Wildlife Refuge; 
(5) the Connecticut River Joint Commissions; 
(6) the Connecticut River Atlantic Salmon 
Commission and its successor organization the Con-
necticut River Migratory Fish Restoration Coopera-
tive; 
(7) other public and quasi-public agencies and 
organizations with authority for the planning and 
implementation of conservation strategies in or af-
fecting the Watershed; and 
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