Sponsors
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.
Last progress April 21, 2025 (9 months ago)
Introduced on April 21, 2025 by Betty McCollum
Creates a nonregulatory Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) housed at EPA to coordinate and fund projects that improve water quality, restore habitat, reduce flood and storm risk, address invasive species, strengthen partnerships, and expand monitoring and science across the Mississippi River Corridor. It also establishes a national program office and a network of three research centers run by DOI/USGS, requires near-term measurable goals and an action plan, and mandates periodic updates and annual public reporting to Congress. The measure directs EPA, Interior, and USGS to set timelines and performance metrics (goals within 1 year, an action plan within 2 years, updates at least every 5 years), create public science plans and forums, and use the newly defined statutory terms for program administration. It focuses on coordination, planning, research, and grantable project support rather than new regulatory controls.
States the purpose of the Act: to establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) to protect and restore the ecological health and resilience of the Mississippi River for current and succeeding generations of Americans and for fish and wildlife that rely on the river and its floodplain.
Specifies that the MRRRI is a nonregulatory initiative that will build upon existing efforts and provide funding for projects and activities to protect and restore nationally significant resources of the Mississippi River.
Establishes the Mississippi River National Program Office.
Establishes the focus areas and identifies qualifying activities for MRRRI programs and projects.
Directs the development of actionable goals, an action plan, and a science plan, and requires regular updates to those plans to guide the MRRRI.
Agencies and partners: EPA will house and run the national program office and lead implementation; the Department of the Interior and USGS will set up and operate the research centers and lead science planning. States, Tribal governments, local governments, and non‑profit and private partners will be partners or recipients of grants and coordinated projects. On-the-ground effects: communities along the Mississippi are likely to benefit from improved water quality, restored fish and wildlife habitat, better flood and storm resilience, and expanded environmental monitoring and data to inform local decisionmaking. Fisheries and recreation: commercial and recreational fishers and river‑dependent recreation and tourism may see long‑term benefits from habitat restoration and invasive species control. Scientific community: universities, research institutions, and monitoring networks will gain funding and coordination opportunities through the research centers, science forum, and public science plan. Fiscal and implementation realities: the bill authorizes program structure and activities and mandates timelines and reporting, but implementation requires appropriations and agency capacity; the initiative may increase federal grant activity and interagency coordination, with modest administrative costs and potential large-scale project funding if appropriated. Regulatory burden: minimal for states and localities because the initiative is nonregulatory; expected impacts are primarily positive (planning, funding, technical assistance), though local partners may need to participate in planning, reporting, or matching grant requirements depending on future program rules. Equity and Tribal involvement: the statute requires coordination with Tribal governments and organizations and public input, which can improve inclusion of Tribal priorities and environmental justice communities in planning and project selection.