Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act

Bill: 111-s-1117
Sponsor: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Introduced: 2009-05-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Water Resources Development
Subjects: Fishes
Historic sites and heritage areas
Lakes and rivers
New Hampshire
Outdoor recreation
Travel and tourism
Vermont
Watersheds
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: 
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. 

action_date: 2010-09-27
text: 
Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Connecticut River Grants and Technical Assistance Program to provide financial and technical assistance to the states of New Hampshire and Vermont, through the Connecticut River Joint Commissions of New Hampshire and Vermont, to improve the management of the upper Connecticut River watershed. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary to provide the Commissions with financial and technical assistance to further the purposes of this Act. . 
 
Requires the Commissions to develop criteria to prioritize and determine the eligibility of applicants for assistance under the Program and to review and prioritize applications for such assistance. 
 
Requires such criteria to be submitted by the Commissions for review by the Secretary. Sets forth procedures for the approval or disapproval of the criteria. 
 
Allows the Commissions to use funds under this Act to provide financial and technical assistance to state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and other public and private entities for the protection of the watershed. 
 
Authorizes appropriations. Limits the federal share of the total cost of any activity funded by assistance under this Act to half of that activity's total cost. Permits the non-federal contribution towards such an activity to be in the form of in-kind contributions of fairly valued goods or services. 
 
Terminates the authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance under this Act 10 years after enactment. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-27
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 592.
action_date: 2010-09-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-306.
action_date: 2010-09-27
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Bingaman with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 111-306.
action_date: 2010-08-05
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2009-07-15
text: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 111-92.
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5823)
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5822-5823)
action_date: 2009-05-21
text: Introduced in Senate