Connecticut River Watershed Partnership Act

(a) Definition of eligible entity. In this section, the term eligible entity means—

(1) a State, Tribal, or local government;

(2) a nonprofit organization; and

(3) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))).

(b) 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 Connecticut River Watershed Partnership grant program, to provide competitive matching grants to eligible entities to carry out restoration and protection activities for the Watershed.

(c) Criteria. The Secretary, in consultation with the agencies, organizations, and other individuals and entities referred to in section 3(c), shall develop criteria for the grant program to ensure—

(1) the equitable distribution of funds; and

(2) that projects funded under the grant program accomplish 1 or more of the purposes described in section 3(d).

(d) Cost sharing

(1) Federal share

(A) In general. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program shall not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the project, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) Environmental Justice communities

(i) In general. Subject to clause (ii), the Federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program that serves an environmental justice community shall be 90 percent of the total cost of the project, 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 project 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. The non-Federal share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program may be provided in cash or in the form of an in-kind contribution of services, materials, or land value.

(e) Administration

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

(A) for each fiscal year in which the grant program is carried out, receive amounts made available to carry out this section for that fiscal year in an advance payment of the entire amounts 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) otherwise 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)).