To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the States of New Hampshire and Vermont.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Upper Connecticut River Partnership 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the upper Connecticut River watershed in the States of 
        New Hampshire and Vermont is a scenic region of historic 
        villages located in a working landscape of farms, forests, and 
        the mountainous headwaters and broad fertile floodplains of New 
        England's longest river, the Connecticut River;
            (2) the River provides outstanding fish and wildlife 
        habitat, recreation, and hydropower generation for the New 
        England region;
            (3) the upper Connecticut River watershed has been 
        recognized by Congress as part of the Silvio O. Conte National 
        Fish and Wildlife Refuge, established by the Silvio O. Conte 
        National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; 
        Public Law 102-212);
            (4) the demonstrated commitment to stewardship of the River 
        by the citizens living in the watershed led to the Presidential 
        designation of the River as 1 of 14 American Heritage Rivers on 
        July 30, 1998;
            (5) the River is home to the bi-State Connecticut River 
        Scenic Byway, which was declared a National Scenic Byway by the 
        Department of Transportation in 2005 to foster heritage tourism 
        in the region;
            (6) each of the legislatures of the States of Vermont and 
        New Hampshire has established a commission for the Connecticut 
        River watershed, and the 2 commissions, known collectively as 
        the ``Connecticut River Joint Commissions''--
                    (A) have worked together since 1989; and
                    (B) serve as the focal point and catalyst for 
                cooperation between Federal agencies, States, 
                communities, and citizens;
            (7) in 1997, as directed by the legislatures, the 
        Connecticut River Joint Commissions, with the substantial 
        involvement of 5 bi-State local river subcommittees appointed 
        to represent riverfront towns, produced the 6 volume 
        Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, to be used as a 
        blueprint in educating agencies, communities, and the public in 
        how to be good neighbors to a great river;
            (8) in 2009, after 3 years of broad consultation, the 
        Connecticut River Joint Commissions have substantially expanded 
        and published updates via the Connecticut River Recreation 
        Management Plan and the Water Resources Management Plan to 
        guide public and private activities in the watershed;
            (9) through a joint legislative resolution, the 
        legislatures of the States of Vermont and New Hampshire have 
        requested that Congress provide for continuation of cooperative 
        partnerships and that Federal agencies support the Connecticut 
        River Joint Commissions in carrying out the recommendations of 
        the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan;
            (10) this Act effectuates certain recommendations of the 
        Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan that are most 
        appropriately directed by the States through the Connecticut 
        River Joint Commissions, with assistance from the National Park 
        Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
            (11) where implementation of those recommendations involves 
        partnership with local communities and organizations, support 
        for the partnership should be provided by the Secretary.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the Secretary 
to provide to the States of New Hampshire and Vermont (including 
communities in those States), through the Connecticut River Joint 
Commissions, technical and financial assistance for management of the 
River.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) River.--The term ``River'' means the Connecticut River.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (3) State.--The term ``State'' means--
                    (A) the State of New Hampshire; or
                    (B) the State of Vermont.

SEC. 4. CONNECTICUT RIVER GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a Connecticut River 
Grants and Technical Assistance Program to provide grants and technical 
assistance to State and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and 
the private sector to carry out projects for the conservation, 
restoration, and interpretation of historic, cultural, recreational, 
and natural resources in the upper Connecticut River watershed.
    (b) Criteria.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Connecticut 
River Joint Commissions, shall develop criteria for determining the 
eligibility of applicants for, and reviewing and prioritizing 
applications for, grants or technical assistance under the program.
    (c) Cost-Sharing.--
            (1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
        carrying out a grant project under subsection (a) shall not 
        exceed 75 percent.
            (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
        of a project may be provided in the form of an in-kind 
        contribution of services or materials.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
$1,000,000 for each fiscal year.

Summary: Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Connecticut River Grants and Technical Assistance Program to provide grants and technical assistance to the governments of New Hampshire and Vermont, local governments, nonprofits, and the private sector to carry out projects for the conservation, restoration, and interpretation of historic and other resources in the upper Connecticut River watershed. Limits to a maximum of 75% the federal share of the cost of any project funded by a grant under this Act.