[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5822-S5824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. 
        Gregg):
  S. 1117. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide 
assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and 
recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the 
States of New Hampshire

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and Vermont; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce today the Upper 
Connecticut River Partnership Act. This legislation will help bring 
recognition to New England's largest river ecosystem and one of our 
Nation's 14 American Heritage Rivers.
  The purpose of this legislation is to help the communities along the 
river protect and enhance their rich cultural history, economic 
vitality, and the environmental integrity of the river.
  From its origin in the mountains of northern New Hampshire, the 
Connecticut River runs over 400 miles and eventually empties into Long 
Island Sound. The river forms a natural boundary between my home state 
of Vermont and New Hampshire, and travels through the States of 
Massachusetts and Connecticut. The river and surrounding valley have 
long shaped and influenced development in the New England region. This 
river is one of America's earliest developed rivers, with European 
settlements going back over 350 years. The industrial revolution 
blossomed in the Connecticut River Valley, supported by new 
technologies such as canals and mills run by hydropower.
  I am pleased that the entire Senate delegations from Vermont and New 
Hampshire have cosponsored this bill. For years our States have worked 
together, to help communities on both sides of the river develop local 
partnerships to protect the Connecticut River valley of Vermont and New 
Hampshire. While great improvements have been made to the river, its 
overall health remains threatened by water and air pollution, habitat 
loss, hydroelectric dams, and invasive species.
  Historically, the people throughout the Upper Connecticut River 
Valley have functioned cooperatively and the river serves to unite 
Vermont and New Hampshire communities economically, culturally, and 
environmentally.
  Citizens on both sides of the river know just how special this region 
is and have worked side by side for years to protect it. Efforts have 
been underway for some time to restore the Atlantic salmon fishery, 
protect threatened and endangered species, and support urban riverfront 
revitalization.
  In 1989, Vermont and New Hampshire came together to create the 
Connecticut River Joint Commissions--a unique partnership between the 
states, local businesses, all levels of Government within the 2 States 
and citizens from all walks of life. This partnership helps coordinate 
the efforts of towns, watershed managers and other local groups to 
implement the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan. This Plan has 
become the blueprint for how communities along the river can work with 
one another with Vermont and New Hampshire and with the federal 
government to protect the river's resources.
  The Upper Connecticut River Partnership Act would help carry out the 
recommendations of the Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, 
which was developed under New Hampshire law with the active 
participation of Vermont citizens and communities.
  This act would also provide the Secretary of the Interior with the 
much needed ability to assist the States of New Hampshire and Vermont 
with technical and financial aid for the Upper Connecticut River Valley 
through the Connecticut River Joint Commissions. The act would also 
assist local communities with cultural heritage outreach and education 
programs while enriching the recreational activities already active in 
the Connecticut River Watershed of Vermont and New Hampshire.
  Lastly, the bill will require that the Secretary of the Interior 
establish a Connecticut River Grants and Technical Assistance Program 
to help local community groups develop new projects as well as build on 
existing ones to enhance the river basin.
  In the future, I hope this bill will help bring renewed recognition 
and increased efforts to conserve the Connecticut River as one of our 
Nation's great natural and economic resources.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follwos:

                                S. 1117

       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 ``Upper Connecticut River 
     Partnership Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the upper Connecticut River watershed in the States of 
     New Hampshire and Vermont is a scenic region of historic 
     villages located in a working landscape of farms, forests, 
     and the mountainous headwaters and broad fertile floodplains 
     of New England's longest river, the Connecticut River;
       (2) the River provides outstanding fish and wildlife 
     habitat, recreation, and hydropower generation for the New 
     England region;
       (3) the upper Connecticut River watershed has been 
     recognized by Congress as part of the Silvio O. Conte 
     National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, established by the Silvio 
     O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Act (16 U.S.C. 
     668dd note; Public Law 102-212);
       (4) the demonstrated commitment to stewardship of the River 
     by the citizens living in the watershed led to the 
     Presidential designation of the River as 1 of 14 American 
     Heritage Rivers on July 30, 1998;
       (5) the River is home to the bi-State Connecticut River 
     Scenic Byway, which was declared a National Scenic Byway by 
     the Department of Transportation in 2005 to foster heritage 
     tourism in the region;
       (6) each of the legislatures of the States of Vermont and 
     New Hampshire has established a commission for the 
     Connecticut River watershed, and the 2 commissions, known 
     collectively as the ``Connecticut River Joint Commissions''--
       (A) have worked together since 1989; and
       (B) serve as the focal point and catalyst for cooperation 
     between Federal agencies, States, communities, and citizens;
       (7) in 1997, as directed by the legislatures, the 
     Connecticut River Joint Commissions, with the substantial 
     involvement of 5 bi-State local river subcommittees appointed 
     to represent riverfront towns, produced the 6 volume 
     Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan, to be used as a 
     blueprint in educating agencies, communities, and the public 
     in how to be good neighbors to a great river;
       (8) in 2009, after 3 years of broad consultation, the 
     Connecticut River Joint Commissions have substantially 
     expanded and published updates via the Connecticut River 
     Recreation Management Plan and the Water Resources Management 
     Plan to guide public and private activities in the watershed;
       (9) through a joint legislative resolution, the 
     legislatures of the States of Vermont and New Hampshire have 
     requested that Congress provide for continuation of 
     cooperative partnerships and that Federal agencies support 
     the Connecticut River Joint Commissions in carrying out the 
     recommendations of the Connecticut River Corridor Management 
     Plan;
       (10) this Act effectuates certain recommendations of the 
     Connecticut River Corridor Management Plan that are most 
     appropriately directed by the States through the Connecticut 
     River Joint Commissions, with assistance from the National 
     Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; 
     and
       (11) where implementation of those recommendations involves 
     partnership with local communities and organizations, support 
     for the partnership should be provided by the Secretary.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the 
     Secretary to provide to the States of New Hampshire and 
     Vermont (including communities in those States), through the 
     Connecticut River Joint Commissions, technical and financial 
     assistance for management of the River.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) State.--The term ``State'' means--
       (A) the State of New Hampshire; or
       (B) the State of Vermont.

     SEC. 4. CONNECTICUT RIVER GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a 
     Connecticut River Grants and Technical Assistance Program to 
     provide grants and technical assistance to State and local 
     governments, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector 
     to carry out projects for the conservation, restoration, and 
     interpretation of historic, cultural, recreational, and 
     natural resources in the upper Connecticut River watershed.
       (b) Criteria.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Connecticut River Joint Commissions, shall develop criteria 
     for determining the eligibility of applicants for, and 
     reviewing and prioritizing applications for, grants or 
     technical assistance under the program.
       (c) Cost-Sharing.--
       (1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
     carrying out a grant project under subsection (a) shall not 
     exceed 75 percent.
       (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of a project may be provided in the form of an in-kind 
     contribution of services or materials.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act $1,000,000 for each fiscal year.

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