[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1261 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1261
To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to make financial assistance to States under the Land and
Water Conservation Fund available for water quality projects, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2025
Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 54, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to make financial assistance to States under the Land and
Water Conservation Fund available for water quality projects, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Land and Water Conservation Fund
Water Amendments Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES FOR WATER QUALITY PROJECTS.
Section 200305 of title 54, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), in the second sentence, by inserting
``and water quality improvement'' after ``outdoor recreation'';
(2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(5) Water quality.--A comprehensive statewide outdoor
recreation plan shall identify--
``(A) any body of water within the boundaries of
the State for which a State water quality control plan
has been developed pursuant to section 303(d) of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
1313(d)); and
``(B) any proposed water quality project (as
defined in subsection (e)(4)(A)) to be conducted with
respect to a body of water that is identified under
subparagraph (A).''; and
(3) in subsection (e)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``and Development
of Basic Outdoor Recreation Facilities'' and inserting
``, Development of Basic Outdoor Recreation Facilities,
and Conduct of Water Quality Projects'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and (3)'' and
inserting ``, (3), and (4)''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Water quality projects.--
``(A) Definition of water quality project.--In this
paragraph, the term `water quality project' means any
project identified in a State water quality control
plan developed for the purpose of restoring any body of
water that is identified by the State under section
303(d) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33
U.S.C. 1313(d)) as being impaired.
``(B) Financial assistance.--Under paragraph (1),
the Secretary may provide financial assistance for the
conduct of water quality projects.
``(C) Non-federal share credit.--The Secretary may
credit toward the non-Federal share required under
subsection (c) funds allocated by a State for the
conduct of a water quality project.
``(D) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult
with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency in carrying out this paragraph.
``(E) Limitations.--
``(i) In general.--In providing financial
assistance to water quality projects under this
paragraph, the Secretary shall only provide
financial assistance to water quality projects
that seek to improve water quality by
improving, restoring, remediating, or
developing natural hydrological systems, such
as--
``(I) wetlands;
``(II) marshes;
``(III) living shorelines;
``(IV) near-shore estuarine waters;
or
``(V) any other naturally occurring
hydrological features the Secretary
determines to be necessary for the
purpose of reducing nutrient loads.
``(ii) No reimbursement.--Funds made
available for a water quality project under
this paragraph may not be used to reimburse the
cost of any water quality project that has
already been completed or is otherwise fully
funded.
``(iii) Effect.--Nothing in this
paragraph--
``(I) expands the authority of the
Federal Government over nonnavigable
waters; or
``(II) authorizes the Secretary to
regulate the conduct of water quality
projects.''.
<all>