[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4350 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4350

   To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish the 
         Southeast New England Program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 21, 2026

  Mr. Reed (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Markey, and Ms. Warren) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
               Committee on Environment and Public Works

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish the 
         Southeast New England Program, 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 ``Southeast New England Program 
Authorization Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND PROGRAM.

    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. SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definition of Coastal Watersheds of Southeast New England.--
In this section, the term `coastal watersheds of southeast New England' 
means all of the watersheds of Rhode Island and southeastern 
Massachusetts that drain into coastal waters between Long Island Sound 
and the Gulf of Maine.
    ``(b) Establishment.--There is established in the Environmental 
Protection Agency a program, to be known as the `Southeast New England 
Program' (referred to in this section as the `Program').
    ``(c) Purpose.--The purpose of the Program shall be to protect, 
enhance, and restore the coastal watersheds of southeast New England by 
developing, funding, and advancing implementation of protection and 
restoration projects in collaboration with partners across the 
southeast New England region.
    ``(d) Grant Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out the Program, the 
        Administrator may award grants to support and carry out 
        projects in the coastal watersheds of southeast New England 
        that assist in--
                    ``(A) eliminating or reducing pollution;
                    ``(B) restoring contaminated sites;
                    ``(C) protecting or restoring ecosystems or 
                habitat;
                    ``(D) improving water quality;
                    ``(E) monitoring watersheds to evaluate trends;
                    ``(F) reducing stormwater runoff;
                    ``(G) promoting resilience of the coastal 
                watersheds;
                    ``(H) supporting workforce development, training, 
                or education initiatives that contribute to the health 
                of the coastal watersheds of southeast New England; or
                    ``(I) providing technical assistance in carrying 
                out projects described in subparagraphs (A) through 
                (H).
            ``(2) Eligible recipients.--An entity eligible for a grant 
        under this subsection is--
                    ``(A) a State;
                    ``(B) a county or local government, or a 
                subdivision of such a government;
                    ``(C) a federally recognized Indian tribe;
                    ``(D) a regional planning organization;
                    ``(E) a nonprofit organization; and
                    ``(F) an institution of higher education.
            ``(3) Cost-share.--The Federal share of an activity carried 
        out using a grant under this subsection shall not exceed 75 
        percent.
    ``(e) Coordination.--The Administrator shall coordinate the actions 
of Federal agencies that affect water quality and the living resources 
of the coastal watersheds of southeast New England to improve those 
resources and enhance efficiency.
    ``(f) Authorities and Duties of Administrator.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Administrator may--
                    ``(A) enter into interagency agreements;
                    ``(B) establish interagency working groups; and
                    ``(C) contract for services to carry out the 
                purposes of this section.
            ``(2) Staffing.--The Administrator shall provide adequate 
        staff to carry out this section.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
        to the Administrator to carry out this section $30,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to remain available 
        until expended.
            ``(2) Technical assistance.--Of the amounts made available 
        to award grants under subsection (d) in a fiscal year, not more 
        than 10 percent may be used to award grants the primary purpose 
        of which is providing technical assistance pursuant to 
        paragraph (1)(I) of that subsection.
            ``(3) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts made 
        available under paragraph (1) in a fiscal year, not more than 5 
        percent may be used for administrative expenses.''.
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