MRRRI Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2977

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-04-21: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

Last Updated

2025-06-12T08:06:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act (H.R. 2977) aims to create a non-regulatory program to protect and restore the ecological health and resilience of the Mississippi River and its surrounding areas. It focuses on benefiting current and future generations of people, as well as fish and wildlife that depend on the river. The initiative builds on existing federal, state, tribal, and local efforts by providing funding for large-scale restoration projects, without imposing new regulations.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Mississippi River National Program Office: Housed within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this office will be led by a director with expertise in river restoration. It will coordinate federal actions, develop goals and plans, engage stakeholders (including tribes), and submit annual reports to Congress on progress, funding, and projects. The office must include a tribal liaison for better coordination with Native American groups.

• Focus Areas for Projects: All funded activities must address at least one of these priorities:
• Improving water quality by reducing polluted runoff, excess nutrients from farming, sediment, and protecting drinking water sources.
• Enhancing community resilience to floods and storms through floodplain and wetland restoration.
• Protecting and restoring habitats for fish and wildlife.
• Preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species.
• Improving communication and partnerships among stakeholders.
• Monitoring and collecting scientific data on these issues.

• Eligible Projects and Activities: Funds can support actions such as:
• Restoring natural water flows, wetlands, and habitats (e.g., reconnecting side channels or creating living shorelines).
• Removing or modifying barriers like dams, levees, or culverts to improve river function.
• Permanently protecting private lands via purchases or conservation easements (voluntary agreements to limit development).
• Using clean dredged materials for habitat restoration, relocating flood-prone buildings, or promoting healthy soil practices to retain water.
• Reducing pollution from farms and cities, cleaning up non-hazardous contaminants, controlling invasive species, and building community capacity through planning, outreach, and job training.
• Projects must include monitoring plans to measure success, and cannot use plants at high risk of becoming invasive.

• Actionable Goals and Action Plan: Within one year, the program office must set measurable goals for restoration success. Within two years, it must create a multi-year action plan outlining objectives, leveraging existing programs, and recommending specific projects. Both will be updated every five years, with public input and coordination with states, tribes, and agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers and the Hypoxia Task Force (a group addressing low-oxygen zones in the Gulf of Mexico).

• Funding and Implementation:
• Funds can be transferred to other federal agencies or granted to non-federal groups (states, tribes, locals, nonprofits, universities).
• At least 5% of funds go to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for tribal projects.
• Federal cost share is up to 80% for most projects (100% for tribal ones or community capacity-building); in-kind contributions (e.g., volunteer labor) count toward non-federal shares.
• Before the first action plan, funds can start projects or establish research centers.
• After the plan, up to 5% of funds can go to urgent projects outside the plan, prioritizing disaster response.
• Funds cannot overlap with certain existing water infrastructure loans or programs.

• Research Centers and Science Plan: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will create three research centers (one national and two regional—upper and lower river) to conduct studies on restoration, advise agencies, and collaborate with others. A science forum will identify data gaps, leading to a science plan within two years (updated every five years) to guide research priorities.

• Coordination and Reporting: Federal agencies must report annually on their Mississippi-related activities and ensure new funds supplement (not replace) existing budgets. The EPA must request MRRRI funding as a separate line item in its budget.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (also known as the Clean Water Act) by adding a new Section 127, creating the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) as the first dedicated national program for the river's corridor (from headwaters to the Gulf, including tributaries in 10 states). It introduces new structures like the EPA program office, research centers, and specific funding/grant authorities not previously outlined for this river system. It also mandates integration with the Hypoxia Task Force but clarifies it does not replace or supplant that group's work. No existing environmental laws (e.g., National Environmental Policy Act or Endangered Species Act) are waived; all projects must comply with them.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Increases coordination among agencies like EPA, USGS, Army Corps of Engineers, USDA, and Department of the Interior, potentially streamlining efforts but adding reporting and planning requirements. It provides new funding streams, which could boost budgets for river-related work without supplanting current allocations.

• On Citizens: Residents in the 10 Mississippi River states (Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin) may see cleaner water, reduced flood risks, better habitats for recreation and fishing, and job opportunities in restoration (e.g., training programs). Communities could benefit from resilient infrastructure and pollution reduction, improving health and drinking water quality.

• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the focus is domestic. However, by addressing nutrient runoff that contributes to Gulf of Mexico "dead zones," it could indirectly support U.S. commitments under international water quality agreements with Mexico and Canada, enhancing bilateral environmental cooperation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Agencies: EPA (lead), USGS, Army Corps of Engineers, USDA (Natural Resources Conservation Service and Forest Service), Department of the Interior (including Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs), FEMA, NOAA, and Coast Guard.
• State and Local Governments: The 10 Mississippi River states and their local entities, which can receive grants for projects.
• Tribal Governments and Organizations: Prioritized with dedicated funding (at least 5%), consultation requirements, and full federal cost coverage to address tribal lands and priorities.
• Non-Governmental Groups: Nonprofits, universities, and the public, who can apply for grants, provide input via public comment periods, and participate in community planning and research.
• Private Landowners and Businesses: Affected through voluntary easements, farming practices to reduce runoff, and opportunities for invasive species harvesting or restoration jobs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces compliance with core environmental laws (e.g., Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act) by explicitly stating no waivers, ensuring projects undergo standard reviews like environmental impact assessments. It promotes voluntary, incentive-based actions over mandates, reducing litigation risks while advancing restoration.

• Constitutional: Emphasizes tribal sovereignty through mandatory consultation, a tribal liaison, and dedicated funding, aligning with federal trust responsibilities to Native American tribes. It respects federalism by requiring state and local input without overriding state authority.

• Political: As a collaborative, non-regulatory initiative, it could foster bipartisan support in river-dependent regions by linking environmental goals to economic benefits (e.g., flood protection for agriculture and navigation). However, funding dependence on congressional appropriations may lead to debates over priorities amid competing budget needs; the separate budget line item ensures visibility but invites scrutiny on costs versus outcomes.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]

Recent Actions

• 2025-04-21: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
• 2025-04-21: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
• 2025-04-21: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, 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.
• 2025-04-21: Introduced in House
• 2025-04-21: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act — issued 2025-04-21 — PDF (31 pages)