New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025

(a) Establishment. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a voluntary grant and technical assistance program, to be known as the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program, to provide competitive matching grants to State, Tribal, and local governments, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities, as determined by the Secretary, to carry out the coordinated restoration and protection activities described in section 3(b)(2).

(b) Criteria. The Secretary, in consultation with the individuals and entities referred to in section 3(d), shall develop criteria for the grant program to ensure that activities funded under the grant program—

(1) accomplish 1 or more of the purposes identified in section 3(b)(2); and

(2) advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the Watershed-wide strategy adopted under section 3(c)(3).

(c) Capacity building. In carrying out the grant program, the Secretary shall seek to increase the effectiveness of organizations that carry out restoration and protection activities described in section 3(b)(2) within the Watershed by addressing organizational capacity needs.

(d) Cost-Share

(1) Federal share

(A) In general. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the total cost of a restoration and protection activity carried out under the grant program shall be not more than 50 percent, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) Small, rural, and disadvantaged communities

(i) In general. Subject to clause (ii) the Federal share of the total cost of a restoration and protection activity carried out under the grant program that serves a small, rural, or disadvantaged community shall be 90 percent, as determined by the Secretary.

(ii) Waiver. The Secretary may increase the Federal share under clause (i) to 100 percent of the total cost of the restoration and protection activity if the Secretary determines that the grant recipient is unable to pay, or would experience significant financial hardship if required to pay, the non-Federal share.

(2) Non-Federal share

(A) In general. The non-Federal share of the total cost of a restoration and protection activity carried out under the grant program shall be not more than 50 percent, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) Form of payment. The non-Federal share described in subparagraph (A) may be provided—

(i) in cash; or

(ii) in the form of an in-kind contribution of services or materials.

(e) Administration

(1) In general. The Secretary may enter into an agreement to manage the grant program with—

(A) the Foundation; or

(B) a similar organization that offers grant management services.

(2) Funding. If the Secretary enters into an agreement under paragraph (1), the Foundation or similar organization selected, as applicable, shall—

(A) receive the amounts made available to carry out the grant program under section 7 for each applicable fiscal year in an advance payment of the entire amount on October 1 of that fiscal year, or as soon as practicable thereafter;

(B) invest and reinvest those amounts for the benefit of the grant program; and

(C) administer the grant program to support partnerships between the public and private sectors in accordance with this Act.

(3) Requirements. If the Secretary enters into an agreement with the Foundation under paragraph (1), any amounts received by the Foundation under this section shall be subject to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), excluding section 10(a) of that Act (16 U.S.C. 3709(a)).