[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1615 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1615
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a regional
pilot program to enhance habitat and water availability for shorebirds,
waterfowl, and other wetlands-dependent birds, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 6, 2025
Mr. Wyden (for himself and Mr. Crapo) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a regional
pilot program to enhance habitat and water availability for shorebirds,
waterfowl, and other wetlands-dependent birds, 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 ``Northwest Wetlands Voluntary
Incentives Program Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Columbia river basin.--The term ``Columbia River
Basin'' includes--
(A) the Columbia River; and
(B) all tributaries of the Columbia River and the
watersheds of those tributaries.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a Federal or State agency or unit of local
government;
(B) a Tribal government or organization;
(C) a nonprofit organization;
(D) a conservation district;
(E) a private landowner; and
(F) any other entity or individual that the
Secretary determines to be appropriate to receive a
grant under the pilot program in accordance with the
criteria established under section 3(h).
(3) Habitat restoration project.--The term ``habitat
restoration project'' means a project described in section
3(d).
(4) Oregon and washington coastal zone.--The term ``Oregon
and Washington Coastal Zone'' means the region that covers the
coastal waters and adjacent land of the States of Washington
and Oregon, including the Puget Sound, Lower Columbia River,
and coastal rivers and watersheds.
(5) Pilot program.--The term ``pilot program'' means the
Pacific Northwest Migratory Bird Conservation pilot program
established under section 3(a).
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service.
SEC. 3. PACIFIC NORTHWEST MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall, in coordination with
Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, establish and carry out a voluntary
grant and technical assistance pilot program, to be known as the
``Pacific Northwest Migratory Bird Conservation pilot program'', to
provide--
(1) competitive grants to eligible entities to carry out
habitat restoration projects that promote the purpose of the
pilot program described in subsection (b); and
(2) technical assistance in carrying out a habitat
restoration project using grant funds.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the pilot program is to enhance,
maintain, and restore habitats for shorebirds, waterfowl, and other
wetlands-dependent birds along the Oregon and Washington Coastal Zone
and in the Columbia River Basin, including birds that are important for
migrating, staging, and wintering populations of waterfowl, shorebirds,
waterbirds, and passerines.
(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot
program, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require, which may include a request
for funding to cover all eligible direct and indirect costs relating to
carrying out a habitat restoration project.
(d) Habitat Restoration Projects.--The following projects are
eligible to receive a grant and technical assistance under the pilot
program:
(1) Water infrastructure and management projects to enhance
and restore habitat for wetlands-dependent migratory birds.
(2) Projects that manage or enhance vegetative habitat to
maximize resources for wetlands-dependent migratory birds.
(e) Location of Projects.--An eligible entity may carry out a
habitat restoration project on public, private, Tribal, or other land,
determined to be appropriate by the Secretary, including agricultural
land that provides habitats and values of benefit to wetlands-
associated migratory birds, including waterfowl, shorebirds,
waterbirds, and passerines.
(f) Priority.--In awarding grants under the pilot program, the
Secretary may give priority to eligible entities that intend to carry
out habitat restoration projects--
(1) in locations where--
(A) migratory bird habitat is rapidly being lost or
converted;
(B) human population growth is rapid; or
(C) sufficient public access to recreational land
is limited;
(2) that include a plan for long-term operation and
maintenance;
(3) that include performance or effective monitoring of
project goals and ecosystem services; and
(4) in accordance with subsection (i), that provide a non-
Federal share of not less than 25 percent.
(g) Use of Funds.--
(1) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a grant
under the pilot program may use--
(A) not more than 10 percent of grant funds to
determine the ecosystem service benefits of the habitat
restoration project to be carried out by the eligible
entity; and
(B) not more than 10 percent of grant funds for
voluntary conservation easements related to that
habitat restoration project.
(2) Timing.--
(A) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under the pilot program shall use the grant funds
not later than 4 years after the date on which the
eligible entity receives the grant.
(B) Unspent funds.--Any funds not used by an
eligible entity within the time period described in
subparagraph (A) shall be returned to the Secretary for
use in carrying out the pilot program.
(3) Planning costs; regular operation and maintenance.--An
eligible entity that receives a grant under the pilot program--
(A) may use the grant funds to carry out activities
relating to the planning, permitting, installing, or
replacing of a habitat restoration project; and
(B) may not use the grant funds to carry out
regular operation and maintenance with respect to those
habitat restoration projects.
(h) Criteria.--The Secretary shall, in consultation with officials
and entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E) of section
2(2), establish criteria for the pilot program to help ensure that
habitat restoration projects carried out under the pilot program
accomplish the purpose of the pilot program described in subsection
(b).
(i) Non-Federal Share Requirements.--For purposes of subsection
(f)(4), a non-Federal share provided for a grant under the pilot
program shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The non-Federal share is secured by the eligible entity
not later than 2 years before the date on which the eligible
entity submits an application under subsection (c).
(2) The non-Federal share--
(A) is directly related to the applicable habitat
restoration project; and
(B) includes--
(i) cash or in-kind services;
(ii) State or local government funding;
(iii) private or other eligible matching
funds (as defined by the Secretary); or
(iv) planning, permitting, labor, including
volunteer labor, appraisals, equipment rental,
and material costs.
(j) Administration.--The Secretary may enter into an agreement to
manage the pilot program with an organization that offers grant
management services.
(k) Restriction.--In awarding a grant to an eligible entity under
the pilot program, the Secretary may not provide a grant to carry out a
habitat restoration project the purpose of which is to meet existing
environmental mitigation or compliance obligations under Federal or
State law.
(l) Compliance.--A habitat restoration project awarded a grant
under the pilot program shall comply with all applicable Federal and
State law.
(m) Effect.--Nothing in this section--
(1) preempts or affects any State water law or interstate
compact governing water; or
(2) interferes with private property rights.
SEC. 4. REPORTS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a
report describing the implementation of this Act, including a
description of each habitat restoration project that receives funding
under the pilot program.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry
out the pilot program $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through
2030.
(b) Administration.--Of the amounts made available to carry out the
pilot program for each fiscal year, not more than 3 percent may be used
for administrative costs of carrying out the pilot program.
(c) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Amounts made available to carry out
the pilot program shall supplement, and not supplant, funding for other
activities conducted by the Secretary in an area in which a habitat
restoration project is carried out.
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