[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1675 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1675

   To provide for agreements between Federal agencies to partner or 
transfer funds to accomplish erosion goals relating to the coastal area 
                 of Louisiana, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 18, 2005

 Mr. Boustany (for himself, Mr. McCrery, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Alexander, 
Mr. Jindal, Mr. Melancon, and Mr. Baker) introduced the following bill; 
       which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for agreements between Federal agencies to partner or 
transfer funds to accomplish erosion goals relating to the coastal area 
                 of Louisiana, 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 ``Together-Immediately Defeating 
Erosion Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to encourage Federal agencies to carry 
out comprehensive, interagency projects relating to the conservation, 
protection, and restoration of the coastal area of the State of 
Louisiana.

SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT.

    Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1254-
1274) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the second section 121 as section 122; 
        and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 123. COASTAL LOUISIANA.

    ``(a) Use of Funds.--Any funds authorized to be appropriated under 
this section shall be used in a manner that is consistent with a multi-
agency, comprehensive conservation, protection, and restoration program 
for the coastal area of Louisiana.
    ``(b) Conservation, Protection, and Restoration Programs.--The 
Administrator shall use funds authorized to be appropriated under this 
section for one or more of the following:
            ``(1) To participate in programs relating to the coastal 
        area of the State of Louisiana regarding--
                    ``(A) environmental restoration; and
                    ``(B) resource protection.
            ``(2) To carry out such restoration projects relating to 
        the coastal area of the State of Louisiana as the Adminstrator 
        determines to be appropriate.
            ``(3) To enter into an agreement with the head of any other 
        Federal agency to partner or transfer funds to achieve the 
        purpose described in section 2 of the Together-Immediately 
        Defending Erosion Act of 2005.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2006 through 2016.''.

SEC. 4. AMENDMENT TO WATERSHED PROTECTION AND FLOOD PREVENTION ACT.

    The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (16 U.S.C. 1001-
1012) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 15. COASTAL LOUISIANA.

    ``(a) Use of Funds.--Any funds authorized to be appropriated under 
this section shall be used in a manner that is consistent with a multi-
agency, comprehensive conservation, protection, and restoration program 
for the coastal area of Louisiana.
    ``(b) Conservation, Protection, and Restoration Programs.--The 
Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Natural Resources 
Conservation Service, shall use funds authorized to be appropriated 
under this section for one or more of the following:
            ``(1) To give technical and financial assistance to local 
        organizations in planning and carrying out watershed projects 
        for flood protection and other purposes consistent with the 
        comprehensive Louisiana coastal conservation, protection, and 
        restoration program.
            ``(2) To carry out any other appropriate activity, as 
        determined by the Secretary, in accordance with section 2 of 
        the Together-Immediately Defending Erosion Act of 2005.
            ``(3) To enter into an agreement with the head of any other 
        Federal agency to partner or transfer funds to achieve the 
        purpose described in such section 2.
            ``(4) To implement projects to protect or restore 
        watersheds and the ecosystem in coastal Louisiana.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2006 through 2016.''.

SEC. 5. LIMITATIONS.

    (a) Statutory Construction.--Nothing in this Act, including any 
amendment made by this Act, shall be construed to provide any new 
regulatory authority or to authorize the application of any regulation 
to coastal Louisiana.
    (b) Acquisition of Real Property.--No funds appropriated to carry 
out this Act, including any amendment made by this Act, may be used to 
acquire any land or interest in land.
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