[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7289 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7289

     To establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
Initiative to carry out projects for the protection and restoration of 
        the Mississippi River Corridor, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 7, 2024

 Ms. McCollum (for herself, Mrs. Ramirez, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Mr. 
  Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. 
Bush, and Ms. Moore of Wisconsin) introduced the following bill; which 
was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
Initiative to carry out projects for the protection and restoration of 
        the Mississippi River Corridor, 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 ``Mississippi River Restoration and 
Resilience Initiative Act'' or the ``MRRRI Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Mississippi River flows more than 2,300 miles from 
        its source at Lake Itasca through the center of the continental 
        United States to the Gulf of Mexico.
            (2) The main stem of the Mississippi River flows through 10 
        States that collectively are home to 55.4 million people as of 
        2019.
            (3) The Mississippi River provides drinking water to more 
        than 20 million people in 50 cities.
            (4) The Mississippi River drives a vibrant natural resource 
        and recreation-based economy that generates nearly $500 billion 
        in annual revenue and directly employs more than 1.5 million 
        people.
            (5) The Mississippi River and its 30 million acre 
        floodplain provide an ecological lifeline for all of North 
        America, supporting more than 780 species of fish and wildlife 
        and providing a vital migration corridor for 60 percent of all 
        North American birds and 40 percent of the migratory waterfowl 
        in the United States.
            (6) The Mississippi River serves as a major transportation 
        corridor for grain and cargo.
            (7) Congress has designated the Mississippi River System as 
        a nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally significant 
        navigation system and is the only inland river system to 
        receive both designations.
            (8) Despite its critical value to the United States, the 
        Mississippi River is in a severe state of ecological decline, 
        as documented by the United States Geological Survey, the Army 
        Corps of Engineers, and other Federal and State agencies.
            (9) Modifications to the Mississippi River have resulted in 
        the extensive loss of wetlands and complex river habitats 
        causing profound harm to the treasured fish and wildlife 
        resources in the United States and increasing flood risks to 
        communities.
            (10) Polluted runoff has drastically reduced water quality 
        and created a massive dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
            (11) Invasive aquatic species threaten the ecological 
        integrity of the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, and the 
        fisheries and recreation that rely on a healthy ecosystem.
            (12) Ecological degradation of the Mississippi River has 
        resulted in--
                    (A) more flooding;
                    (B) less wildlife;
                    (C) fewer jobs;
                    (D) reduced recreational opportunities; and
                    (E) higher costs for keeping communities safe and 
                ensuring that communities have clean drinking water.
            (13) The consequences of ecological degradation have 
        disproportionately harmed rural communities, economically 
        disadvantaged communities, and communities of color.
            (14) Existing Federal programs lack sufficient 
        coordination, funding, and participation with States, Tribes, 
        local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to address 
        these ongoing challenges and reverse the decline of the 
        Mississippi River.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to establish the 
Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative to protect and 
restore the ecological health and resilience of the Mississippi River 
for current and succeeding generations of Americans and for the fish 
and wildlife that rely on the Mississippi River and its floodplain. The 
MRRRI is a nonregulatory initiative that will build upon existing 
efforts and provide funding for projects and activities to protect and 
restore the nationally significant resources of the Mississippi River 
by--
            (1) establishing the Mississippi River National Program 
        Office;
            (2) establishing the focus areas and identifying qualifying 
        activities for MRRRI programs and projects;
            (3) directing the development of actionable goals, an 
        action plan, and a science plan, and regular updates to such 
        plans, to guide the MRRRI and ensuring the integration of the 
        MRRRI with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local programs;
            (4) establishing criteria for measuring the success of the 
        MRRRI in restoring the ecological health and resilience of the 
        Mississippi River;
            (5) requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to 
        coordinate and consult with Federal and non-Federal 
        stakeholders to implement the MRRRI; and
            (6) establishing the Mississippi River Corridor Research 
        Centers.

SEC. 3. MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE INITIATIVE.

    Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 127. MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Agency.--The term `Agency' means the Environmental 
        Protection Agency.
            ``(2) MRRRI.--The term `MRRRI' means the Mississippi River 
        Restoration and Resilience Initiative established by this 
        section.
            ``(3) Program office.--The term `Program Office' means the 
        Mississippi River National Program Office established by this 
        section.
            ``(4) MRRRI director.--The term `MRRRI Director' means the 
        Director of the Mississippi River National Program Office 
        established under this section.
            ``(5) Mississippi river corridor.--The term `Mississippi 
        River Corridor' means the portions of the Mississippi River 
        watershed (including tributary watersheds) located in a 
        Mississippi River State.
            ``(6) Mississippi river state.--The term `Mississippi River 
        State' means Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
        Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, or Wisconsin.
            ``(7) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal government' 
        means the recognized governing body of an any Indian tribe, 
        band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or 
        component reservation, individually identified (including 
        parenthetically) in the list published pursuant to section 104 
        of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 
        U.S.C. 5131).
            ``(8) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Indian 
        Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
        5304).
            ``(9) Rural.--The term `rural' means an area that is not 
        delineated by the Bureau of the Census as an urbanized area or 
        an urban cluster based on decennial census results.
            ``(10) Economically disadvantaged community.--The term 
        `economically disadvantaged community' means any census block 
        group in which 30 percent or more of the population are 
        individuals with an annual household income equal to, or less 
        than, the greater of--
                    ``(A) an amount equal to 80 percent of the median 
                income of the area in which the household is located, 
                as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development; and
                    ``(B) an amount equal to 200 percent of the Federal 
                poverty line.
            ``(11) Community of color.--The term `community of color' 
        means a geographically distinct area in which the population of 
        any of the following categories of individuals is higher than 
        the average population of such category for the State in which 
        the geographically distinct area is located:
                    ``(A) Black.
                    ``(B) African American.
                    ``(C) Asian.
                    ``(D) Pacific Islander.
                    ``(E) Hispanic.
                    ``(F) Latino.
                    ``(G) Indian (as such term is defined in section 
                202 of the Indian Land Consolidation Act (25 U.S.C. 
                2201)).
            ``(12) Relevant federal agency.--The term `relevant Federal 
        agency' means any of the following agencies:
                    ``(A) The Department of Agriculture--
                            ``(i) the Natural Resources Conservation 
                        Service; and
                            ``(ii) the Forest Service.
                    ``(B) The Department of the Interior, including--
                            ``(i) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
                            ``(ii) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
                        Service;
                            ``(iii) the United States Geological 
                        Survey; and
                            ``(iv) the National Park Service.
                    ``(C) The Corps of Engineers.
                    ``(D) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
                    ``(E) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration.
                    ``(F) The Coast Guard.
                    ``(G) Any other Federal agency the MRRRI Director 
                determines is relevant.
    ``(b) Mississippi River National Program Office.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a 
        Mississippi River National Program Office within the Agency to 
        carry out the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
        Initiative.
            ``(2) Location.--The Program Office shall be located in a 
        Mississippi River State.
            ``(3) Director.--The Program Office shall be headed by a 
        Director, appointed by the Administrator, who has management 
        experience and technical expertise relating to the Mississippi 
        River and who is highly qualified to direct the development of 
        programs and plans on a variety of issues related to 
        restoration of the Mississippi River.
            ``(4) Functions.--The MRRRI Director shall--
                    ``(A) coordinate actions of the Agency that seek to 
                protect and restore the Mississippi River Corridor;
                    ``(B) develop, implement, and update the MRRRI, 
                actionable goals, and action plan required by this 
                section, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies 
                and non-Federal entities;
                    ``(C) document information and updates related to 
                the development and implementation of the MRRRI, 
                actionable goals, and action plan and make such 
                information and updates available to the public, 
                including on a public website;
                    ``(D) facilitate engagement and consultation with 
                Tribal governments and Tribal organizations to ensure 
                Tribal needs and priorities are solicited early and 
                throughout the development of the actionable goals and 
                action plan required by this section;
                    ``(E) work cooperatively with the Bureau of Indian 
                Affairs and other Federal agencies to carry out 
                subparagraph (D); and
                    ``(F) submit to Congress, and make available on a 
                public website, an annual report describing--
                            ``(i) progress made in implementing the 
                        MRRRI;
                            ``(ii) the coordination of the MRRRI with 
                        other Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
                        programs;
                            ``(iii) any funds transferred to relevant 
                        Federal agencies under this section;
                            ``(iv) any grants awarded under this 
                        section; and
                            ``(v) specific projects and activities 
                        carried out pursuant to this section.
            ``(5) Agreements.--In carrying out paragraph (4), the MRRRI 
        Director may enter into agreements, as applicable, with 
        relevant Federal agencies and non-Federal entities.
            ``(6) Tribal liaison.--The MRRRI Director shall appoint a 
        Tribal Liaison within the Program Office to ensure enhanced 
        interagency technical support, communication, and coordination 
        with Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, and Tribal 
        stakeholders, and to carry out other duties as determined 
        necessary to meet the needs of Tribes.
    ``(c) Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Agency the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
        Initiative to implement projects for systemic, large-scale 
        restoration of the Mississippi River Corridor.
            ``(2) Focus areas.--Any project or activity carried out 
        under this section shall address at least 1 of the following 
        focus areas:
                    ``(A) The improvement of water quality in the 
                Mississippi River Corridor and drinking water quality 
                in the Mississippi River States by--
                            ``(i) reducing the amount of polluted 
                        runoff, excess agricultural nutrients, and 
                        sediment in the Mississippi River Corridor; and
                            ``(ii) improving source water protections.
                    ``(B) The improvement of community resilience 
                throughout the Mississippi River Corridor by restoring 
                the ability of the Mississippi River floodplain, 
                riverine wetlands, delta and coastal wetlands, and 
                backwaters to minimize and ameliorate flood and storm 
                risks.
                    ``(C) The protection and restoration of fish and 
                wildlife habitat in and along the Mississippi River 
                Corridor.
                    ``(D) The prevention of the spread of aquatic 
                invasive species in the Mississippi River Corridor.
                    ``(E) The improvement of communication and 
                partnership activities related to the focus areas 
                described in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
                    ``(F) Monitoring, collecting, and evaluating 
                scientific data to assess the focus areas described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (D).
            ``(3) Project implementation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Funds made available to carry 
                out the MRRRI may be used to implement eligible 
                projects and activities described in paragraph (5) that 
                are carried out by a relevant Federal agency or by a 
                non-Federal entity.
                    ``(B) Grant authority.--The MRRRI Director, or the 
                head of any other Federal agency receiving funds under 
                this section, may make a grant to, or otherwise enter 
                into an agreement with, any non-Federal entity 
                (including any State, local, or Tribal governmental 
                entity, nonprofit organization, institution of higher 
                education (as such term is defined in section 101 of 
                the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or 
                individual) that the MRRRI Director or agency head 
                determines is qualified to carry out an eligible 
                project described in paragraph (5).
            ``(4) Project selection.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out the MRRRI, the 
                MRRRI Director shall collaborate with relevant Federal 
                agencies to select projects and activities to be 
                implemented pursuant to this section using appropriate 
                principles and criteria, including--
                            ``(i) the selection of an equitable 
                        distribution of projects and activities along 
                        the entire Mississippi River Corridor;
                            ``(ii) the ability of a project to achieve 
                        strategic and measurable environmental 
                        outcomes;
                            ``(iii) the recognition that projects may 
                        provide benefits to local or regional 
                        communities or to the entire Mississippi River 
                        Corridor;
                            ``(iv) the feasibility of prompt 
                        implementation, timely achievement of 
                        measurable results, and resource leveraging; 
                        and
                            ``(v) the opportunity to improve 
                        interagency, intergovernmental, and 
                        interorganizational coordination and 
                        collaboration to reduce duplication and improve 
                        measurable environmental outcomes.
                    ``(B) Priority.--In selecting projects and 
                activities under this paragraph, the MRRRI Director 
                shall give priority to projects or activities that 
                carry out actions described in paragraph (5)(B)(xi).
                    ``(C) Compatibility.--The MRRRI Director shall 
                ensure that projects and activities carried out under 
                this section are compatible with--
                            ``(i) the ability of the Corps of Engineers 
                        to maintain navigation in the Mississippi 
                        River; and
                            ``(ii) the structural integrity or 
                        effectiveness of Federal, State, local, or 
                        Tribal disaster risk reduction infrastructure.
            ``(5) Eligible projects.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Funds made available to carry 
                out this section may only be used to implement a 
                project or activity that addresses at least 1 of the 
                focus areas described in paragraph (2) and that carries 
                out at least one of the actions described in 
                subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Actions described.--The actions referred to 
                in subparagraph (A) are actions that--
                            ``(i) protect or restore naturally 
                        occurring hydrologic, geomorphic, and 
                        ecological functions and processes, including 
                        the restoration or rehabilitation of wetlands, 
                        in-stream habitats (including through 
                        reconnection of side channels and backwaters), 
                        living shorelines, or upland habitats;
                            ``(ii) remove or modify structures , 
                        including culverts, levees, and dams, to 
                        restore--
                                    ``(I) natural hydrology of rivers, 
                                streams, floodplains, wetlands, or 
                                coasts; or
                                    ``(II) the form, function, or 
                                processes of rivers, streams, 
                                floodplains, wetlands, or coasts;
                            ``(iii) permanently protect privately owned 
                        lands through fee title acquisition or 
                        enrollment into voluntary permanent wetland, 
                        flooding, or other conservation easements;
                            ``(iv) facilitate habitat restoration using 
                        responsibly sourced and clean dredged sediment 
                        material by covering the cost differential 
                        between the Federal standard for dredge 
                        disposal and the cost of transportation;
                            ``(v) relocate, elevate, or demolish, and 
                        clean up flood-prone structures, and carry out 
                        any related floodplain restoration;
                            ``(vi) increase water retention and 
                        infiltration through actions that promote a 
                        healthy soil ecosystem, including maximizing 
                        soil cover, maximizing soil biodiversity, and 
                        maximizing the presence of living roots;
                            ``(vii) reduce nonpoint sources of 
                        pollution and promote landscape-scale 
                        vegetative cover (including perennial grains, 
                        perennial woody crops, winter annual cover 
                        crops, perennial pasture, and other approaches 
                        to maintain year-round vegetative cover) 
                        through the implementation of voluntary 
                        initiatives developed with the support of 
                        market research;
                            ``(viii) reduce stormwater flows and 
                        inflows that contribute to combined sewer 
                        overflow events, and accelerate the adoption of 
                        urban stormwater pollution prevention minimum 
                        control measures through municipal separate 
                        storm sewer system permits issued under section 
                        402(p);
                            ``(ix) facilitate the cleanup of legacy 
                        contaminants that are not hazardous substances 
                        (as defined in section 101 of the Comprehensive 
                        Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
                        Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601)) or 
                        designated as hazardous substances pursuant to 
                        section 102 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
                        Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 
                        1980 (42 U.S.C. 9602);
                            ``(x) control, manage, or eradicate 
                        nonnative aquatic invasive species or 
                        reintroduce native aquatic species, including 
                        through--
                                    ``(I) investments in technology and 
                                research to combat the spread of 
                                aquatic invasive species;
                                    ``(II) the use of in-river physical 
                                deterrent or controls; or
                                    ``(III) the promotion of commercial 
                                harvesting of nonnative aquatic 
                                species;
                            ``(xi) address the disproportionate effects 
                        of the ecological degradation of the 
                        Mississippi River Corridor on economically 
                        disadvantaged communities in rural and urban 
                        areas and on communities of color, including 
                        through--
                                    ``(I) community based participatory 
                                research;
                                    ``(II) project or community-wide 
                                planning;
                                    ``(III) outreach and community 
                                engagement; or
                                    ``(IV) restoration-related job 
                                training and workforce development; or
                            ``(xii) additional actions determined to be 
                        eligible pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(B)(v).
                    ``(C) Protection against invasive plant species.--
                Funds made available to carry out this section may not 
                be used for a project or activity that proposes to use 
                a plant that has an elevated risk of becoming invasive, 
                as determined by the MRRRI Director through the use of 
                a credible weed risk assessment tool.
            ``(6) Monitoring plan.--A Federal agency or non-Federal 
        entity receiving funds to carry out a project or activity under 
        this section shall develop a detailed plan for monitoring the 
        implementation and ecological success of such project or 
        activity, as applicable, that--
                    ``(A) describes criteria for ecological success by 
                which the project will be evaluated based on 
                replacement of lost functions and values of the 
                Mississippi River Corridor habitat, including 
                hydrologic and vegetative characteristics;
                    ``(B) identifies an entity responsible for such 
                monitoring; and
                    ``(C) includes continuation of such monitoring 
                until the project is determined to be successful based 
                on documented achievement of the ecological success 
                criteria described under subparagraph (A).
    ``(d) Actionable Goals; Action Plans.--
            ``(1) Actionable goals.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the MRRRI Director shall 
        develop measurable goals for the MRRRI, including establishing 
        criteria for measuring the success of the MRRRI in addressing 
        the focus areas established in subsection (c)(2) and in 
        restoring the overall ecological health and resilience of the 
        Mississippi River Corridor.
            ``(2) Action plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of this section, the MRRRI Director 
                shall develop an action plan to make progress on the 
                MRRRI through the implementation of MRRRI projects and 
                activities under subsection (c).
                    ``(B) Contents.--The MRRRI Director shall include 
                in the action plan developed under subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) a description of existing Federal, 
                        State, Tribal, and regional plans, programs, 
                        and activities affecting the Mississippi River 
                        Corridor that may be used to advance the MRRRI;
                            ``(ii) recommendations for a comprehensive 
                        approach to advancing systemic, large-scale 
                        restoration of the Mississippi River Corridor 
                        that, where appropriate, leverages existing 
                        Federal and State programs;
                            ``(iii) a multi-year plan that identifies 
                        objectives within each of the focus areas 
                        described in subsection (c)(2), with 
                        corresponding commitments for activities, 
                        research, and measures for progress;
                            ``(iv) a plan to monitor the implementation 
                        of any recommendations developed under this 
                        subparagraph; and
                            ``(v) a description of any additional 
                        actions the Director determines are eligible 
                        under this section.
                    ``(C) Project recommendations.--The action plan 
                described in subparagraph (A) may include 
                recommendations for specific projects or activities 
                that advance the objectives developed under 
                subparagraph (B)(iii), including timelines, budgets, 
                and the identification of entities responsible for the 
                implementation of such projects.
            ``(3) Updates.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not less than once every 5 
                years, the MRRRI Director shall review and update the 
                actionable goals and action plan developed under this 
                subsection.
                    ``(B) Integration with science plan.--In updating 
                the action plan pursuant to this paragraph, the MRRRI 
                Director shall incorporate any relevant information 
                contained in the science plan developed pursuant to 
                section 4(b) of the MRRRI Act.
            ``(4) Coordination and consultation.--In developing and 
        updating the actionable goals and action plan required under 
        this subsection, the MRRRI Director shall--
                    ``(A) consult with Mississippi River States, Tribal 
                governments within such States, the Secretary of the 
                Interior, the Chief of Engineers, and the Secretary of 
                Agriculture;
                    ``(B) engage with relevant Federal agencies, local 
                governments, nongovernmental organizations, 
                institutions of higher education (as defined in section 
                101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1001)), and members of the public; and
                    ``(C) solicit input from the entities described in 
                subparagraph (B) through a formal public notice and 
                comment period.
    ``(e) Funding.--
            ``(1) Transfer of funds to federal entities.--With funds 
        made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year, 
        the MRRRI Director may--
                    ``(A) transfer funds to the head of any relevant 
                Federal agency, with the concurrence of the head of 
                such agency, to carry out activities in accordance with 
                this section;
                    ``(B) transfer funds to other Federal programs to 
                be used for achieving specifically targeted and 
                measurable environmental outcomes that advance the 
                actionable goals developed and updated under subsection 
                (d); and
                    ``(C) enter into an interagency agreement with the 
                head of any relevant Federal agency to carry out 
                activities in accordance with this section.
            ``(2) Transfer of funds to bureau of indian affairs.--The 
        MRRRI Director shall transfer not less than 5 percent of the 
        funds made available to carry out this section to the Director 
        of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with the concurrence of such 
        Director, to make grants or otherwise enter into agreements 
        with Tribal governments or Tribal organizations to carry out 
        projects or activities under this section.
            ``(3) Availability of funds to implement projects prior to 
        completion of the first action plan.--Before the date on which 
        the first action plan is developed under subsection (d)(2), the 
        MRRRI Director may transfer funds to another Federal entity, or 
        award a grant or otherwise enter into an agreement with a non-
        Federal entity, to--
                    ``(A) carry out projects or activities that meet 
                the requirements of subsection (c)(5); or
                    ``(B) establish the research centers required under 
                section 4(a) of the MRRRI Act.
            ``(4) Cost share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a 
                project or activity carried out by a non-Federal entity 
                under this section shall not exceed 80 percent of the 
                total cost of the project or activity.
                    ``(B) Exception.--The Federal share of the cost of 
                a project or activity carried out by a Tribal 
                government or Tribal organization under this section, 
                and the Federal share of the cost of a project or 
                activity described in subsection (c)(5)(B)(xi) carried 
                by a non-Federal entity, shall be 100 percent of the 
                total cost of the project or activity.
                    ``(C) In kind contribution.--The non-Federal share 
                of the cost of a project or activity carried out under 
                this section may include the value of an in-kind 
                contribution provided by a non-Federal entity.
            ``(5) Limitations.--No funds made available to carry out 
        this section may be used for any water infrastructure activity 
        for which financial assistance is received under--
                    ``(A) a State water pollution control revolving 
                fund established under section 603;
                    ``(B) a State drinking water treatment revolving 
                loan fund established under section 1452 of the Safe 
                Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12); or
                    ``(C) the Water Infrastructure Finance and 
                Innovation Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.).
            ``(6) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
        construed to waive any requirement under any applicable Federal 
        environmental law, including--
                    ``(A) this Act;
                    ``(B) the National Environmental Policy Act (42 
                U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
                    ``(C) the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
                seq.); or
                    ``(D) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 
                1934 (16 U.S.C. 662 et seq.).
    ``(f) Set-Aside.--
            ``(1) In general.--Of the total amount of funds made 
        available to carry out the MRRRI under this section for each 
        fiscal year--
                    ``(A) not less than 25 percent shall be used for 
                projects or activities that carry out actions described 
                in subsection (c)(5)(B)(xi); and
                    ``(B) not less than 10 percent shall be used for 
                projects or activities carried out in a persistent 
                poverty county that has had poverty rates of 20 percent 
                or greater, as determined by the Bureau of the Census, 
                for at least 30 consecutive years preceding such fiscal 
                year.
            ``(2) Action plan.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Of the total amount of funds 
                made available to carry out the MRRRI under this 
                section for each fiscal year beginning with the first 
                fiscal year after which the action plan required under 
                subsection (d)(2) is developed, not more than 5 percent 
                may be used for projects and activities that are 
                eligible under subsection (c)(5), but that do not 
                address an objective identified in the action plan 
                under subsection (d)(2)(B)(iii).
                    ``(B) Priority.--In using funds under subparagraph 
                (A), the MRRRI Director shall prioritize projects that 
                reduce the effects of natural disasters or respond to 
                emerging threats from natural disasters.
    ``(g) Activities by Other Federal Agencies.--
            ``(1) In general.--The head of a relevant Federal agency 
        that is engaged in, or has authority over, programs relating to 
        research, monitoring, and planning to maintain, enhance, 
        preserve, or rehabilitate the environmental quality and natural 
        resources of the Mississippi River shall--
                    ``(A) submit an annual report to the Administrator 
                describing the activities of the agency relating to the 
                MRRRI;
                    ``(B) strive to identify new projects and 
                activities to support the goals of the MRRRI;
                    ``(C) ensure that any funding provided through the 
                MRRRI supplements, and does not supplant, funding 
                obtained through other agency budgets or other sources 
                of funds for activities related to the Mississippi 
                River; and
                    ``(D) strive to maintain, and where possible 
                increase, the base level of funding for activities of 
                such agency related to the Mississippi River, without 
                regard to funding under the MRRRI.
    ``(h) Budget Item.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall, in the Agency's 
        annual budget submission to Congress, include a funding request 
        for the MRRRI as a separate budget line item.
            ``(2) Inclusion.--The budget justification for the budget 
        line item described in paragraph (1) shall include the amount 
        to support the operation and activities of the Program 
        Office.''.

SEC. 4. MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRIDOR RESEARCH CENTERS AND SCIENCE PLAN.

    (a) Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
        coordinate with the MRRRI Director to establish a network of 4 
        Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers within the United 
        States Geological Survey.
            (2) Location.--The network of research centers established 
        under paragraph (1) shall consist of--
                    (A) a National Mississippi River Corridor Research 
                Center located at an office of the United States 
                Geological Survey; and
                    (B) 3 regional research centers, each of which 
                shall be based out of a host university, as follows:
                            (i) An Upper Mississippi River Research 
                        Center located in the region from the 
                        headwaters of the Mississippi River to the 
                        confluence with the Missouri River.
                            (ii) A Middle Mississippi River Research 
                        Center located in the region downriver from the 
                        confluence of the Missouri River to the 
                        confluence of the Ohio River.
                            (iii) A Lower Mississippi River Research 
                        Center located in the region downriver from the 
                        confluence of the Ohio River to the Gulf of 
                        Mexico.
            (3) Functions.--The functions of the research centers 
        established under this subsection shall be to--
                    (A) conduct scientific research on the MRRRI focus 
                areas described in section 127(c)(2) of the Federal 
                Water Pollution Control Act (as added by this Act);
                    (B) consult with and advise relevant Federal 
                agencies on--
                            (i) the improvement of programs that 
                        monitor water quality in the Mississippi River 
                        Corridor and the health of the Mississippi 
                        River Corridor habitat or the establishment of 
                        such programs, where necessary;
                            (ii) the impact of projects and activities 
                        carried out under the MRRRI; and
                            (iii) any additional goals, priorities, 
                        metrics, and research objectives proposed as 
                        part of the science plan described in 
                        subsection (b)(2); and
                    (C) consult, and to the extent practicable, 
                collaborate with relevant Federal agencies and non-
                Federal entities regarding research, monitoring, and 
                other efforts to promote the restoration and resiliency 
                of the Mississippi River Corridor.
            (4) Integration with other federal activities.--The 
        Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that research and other 
        activities carried out under this subsection are carried out in 
        coordination with other Federal research and monitoring 
        activities related to efforts to promote the restoration and 
        resiliency of the Mississippi River Corridor.
    (b) Science Plan.--
            (1) Mississippi river science forum.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
                United States Geological Survey shall host a 
                Mississippi River science forum with relevant Federal 
                agencies, Mississippi River States, Tribal governments, 
                Tribal organizations, academia, and other non-Federal 
                entities to--
                            (i) share current science and identify data 
                        gaps and areas of concern related to the 
                        ecological health of the Mississippi River 
                        Corridor; and
                            (ii) determine the resources that are 
                        necessary to--
                                    (I) address any data gaps and areas 
                                of concern identified under clause (i); 
                                and
                                    (II) develop an integrated science 
                                plan under paragraph (2).
                    (B) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the 
                Director of the United States Geological Survey hosts 
                the Mississippi River science forum under subparagraph 
                (A), the Director shall submit a report on the findings 
                from such forum to--
                            (i) the Administrator of the Environmental 
                        Protection Agency;
                            (ii) the MRRRI Director;
                            (iii) the Committee on Appropriations and 
                        the Committee on Natural Resources and the 
                        Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
                        of the House of Representatives; and
                            (iv) the Committee on Appropriations and 
                        the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                        of the Senate.
            (2) Science plan development.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                conclusion of the Mississippi River science forum 
                required by paragraph (1), the Director of the United 
                States Geological Survey shall develop a science plan 
                that establishes priorities, metrics, and research 
                proposals for the MRRRI.
                    (B) Submission.--Upon completion of the science 
                plan developed under this paragraph, the Director of 
                the United States Geological Survey shall make such 
                plan available on a public website and submit such plan 
                to the MRRRI Director to inform the implementation of 
                the actionable goals and action plans developed for the 
                MRRRI under section 127(d) of the Federal Water 
                Pollution Control Act (as added by this Act).
                    (C) Updates.--Not less than once every 5 years, the 
                Director of the United States Geological Survey shall 
                coordinate with the MRRRI Director and the research 
                centers established under subsection (a) to review and 
                update the science plan developed under this 
                subsection.
                    (D) Coordination.--In developing and updating the 
                science plan, the Director shall solicit input and 
                comment from the public through a formal public notice 
                and comment period.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the terms ``MRRRI'', ``MRRRI Director'', ``Mississippi 
River Corridor'', ``Mississippi River State'', ``relevant Federal 
agency'', ``Tribal government'', and ``Tribal organization'' have the 
meanings given such terms in section 127(a) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act, as added by this Act.
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