Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1304
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-13: 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 concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T05:06:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025," aims to extend and expand a federal program for conserving and restoring the Delaware River Basin. It amends the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act) of 2016 to include Maryland in the program's scope, prioritize funding for underserved communities, and prolong the program's authorization through 2032.
Key Provisions
- Inclusion of Maryland: Updates the program's findings and definitions to recognize the Delaware River Basin as a "5-State" area, explicitly adding Maryland alongside Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
- Project Funding Priorities: Directs the Secretary (likely of the Interior or a related federal department) to prioritize grant funding for projects that benefit small, rural, or disadvantaged communities when selecting restoration initiatives.
- Program Extension: Extends the program's sunset date (end of authorization) from 2023 to 2032, allowing continued federal support for conservation efforts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the program's geographic coverage from four states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania) to five by incorporating Maryland, broadening the definition of the "Basin" and "Basin State."
- Introduces a new priority criterion for grant selections, emphasizing equity for smaller or economically challenged areas, which was not specified in the original WIIN Act.
- Prolongs the program's lifespan by nearly a decade, preventing its expiration and ensuring ongoing federal involvement in basin-wide water infrastructure and conservation.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Federal agencies, such as the Department of the Interior, will manage an expanded program with extended funding authority, potentially increasing administrative responsibilities for grant distribution and oversight across an additional state.
- Citizens: Residents in the Delaware River Basin, particularly in small, rural, or low-income communities in the five states, may gain better access to water restoration projects, improving local water quality, infrastructure, and environmental health.
- International Relations: No direct impact, as the program focuses on domestic U.S. interstate cooperation; however, it indirectly supports shared water resources that could influence cross-border environmental efforts if extended beyond U.S. borders in the future.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State Governments: Officials and agencies in Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and newly included Maryland, who will collaborate on basin-wide conservation.
- Local Communities: Especially small, rural, or disadvantaged populations in the basin states, who stand to benefit from prioritized funding for water projects.
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: Organizations focused on river restoration, which may receive or advocate for grants to support habitat protection, pollution reduction, and infrastructure improvements.
- Federal Agencies: Entities like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Environmental Protection Agency, responsible for implementing and funding the program.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens interstate compacts and federal support for regional water management under existing environmental laws, potentially setting a precedent for including adjacent states in multi-state programs without requiring new treaties.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause to regulate navigable waters and interstate environmental resources, promoting cooperative federalism among states.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (from representatives across party lines) highlights cross-party interest in regional environmental issues; the expansion to Maryland could foster broader political support for water conservation but may raise questions about resource allocation in budget-constrained federal programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
Cosponsors (18)
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Conaway, Herbert [D-NJ-3], Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18], Rep. Mackenzie, Ryan [R-PA-7], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-13: 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 concerned.
- 2025-02-13: 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 concerned.
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (3 pages)