Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9226
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: 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
- 2026-06-27T21:03:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act (H.R. 9226)
Purpose
This legislation establishes a nonregulatory program and a competitive grant program to coordinate restoration and protection efforts across the five-state Connecticut River Watershed region, encompassing parts of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It aims to support collaborative activities among federal, state, tribal, local, and nonprofit entities without imposing new regulations.
Key Provisions
- Program Establishment: Directs the Secretary of the Interior (through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to create the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership program within 180 days of enactment. The program draws on existing plans and involves consultation with federal agencies, state governors, tribal governments, and organizations such as the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership and the Connecticut River Joint Commissions.
- Program Purposes: Focuses on 15 specific goals, including restoring fish and wildlife habitats, improving water quality, advancing nature-based solutions for resilience, supporting farmland conservation, engaging environmental justice communities, incorporating traditional tribal ecological knowledge, enhancing public access to trails and recreation, and monitoring environmental progress.
- Grant Program: Creates a voluntary matching grant and technical assistance program for eligible entities (state, tribal, or local governments; nonprofits; and institutions of higher education). Grants support projects that meet the program's purposes, with criteria developed in consultation with listed stakeholders to ensure equitable distribution.
- Cost Sharing: Federal share is generally 75% of project costs; this increases to 90% (or up to 100% with a waiver) for projects serving environmental justice communities, defined as areas with significant representation of communities of color, low-income communities, or tribal communities facing higher environmental risks. Non-federal share may include in-kind contributions.
- Administration and Reporting: Allows the Secretary to partner with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for grant management. Requires annual reports to Congress detailing funded projects. Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with at least 75% of funds directed to the grant program; these amounts supplement, rather than replace, existing funding.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The Act introduces new federal structures for watershed coordination and funding that do not amend or repeal specific prior statutes. It creates a dedicated nonregulatory partnership framework and grant mechanism, building on but not altering existing authorities of agencies like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or referenced commissions.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires coordination among multiple federal entities (e.g., EPA, NOAA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers) and state governments, potentially increasing administrative collaboration and resource allocation without new regulatory mandates.
- Citizens: Aims to improve environmental quality, public access to recreation, and resilience in the watershed, with targeted benefits for environmental justice communities through higher federal funding shares and outreach.
- International Relations: No provisions address international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal agencies involved in consultation and implementation.
- The five Watershed States and their local governments.
- Tribal governments and organizations, including those not federally recognized.
- Nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and existing watershed commissions.
- Environmental justice communities and the general public in the watershed region.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The legislation emphasizes voluntary, nonregulatory approaches and equitable treatment of environmental justice communities, while incorporating tribal traditional knowledge. It operates as supplemental funding and avoids direct mandates on private land use or regulatory changes. No constitutional issues are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: 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.
- 2026-06-09: 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.
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (12 pages)