MRRRI Act

This bill would create the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative to fund local projects that clean up water, reduce flooding, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and help stop invasive species along the river. It is not a new set of rules; it’s a funding and coordination program to protect the river and nearby communities.

It would set up a Mississippi River National Program Office inside the Environmental Protection Agency to run the program. The office can award grants, set clear goals within 1 year, and publish an action plan within 2 years, with updates at least every 5 years. The Department of the Interior would also create three research centers in the United States Geological Survey and hold a science forum within 1 year to guide a long‑term science plan.

• Who is affected: Communities in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. State, local, and Tribal governments, nonprofits, universities, and individuals can apply for project funding.
• What changes: Eligible projects include restoring wetlands and backwaters; updating culverts, levees, and dams to bring back natural flow; moving or elevating flood‑prone buildings; soil‑health practices; cutting stormwater overflows; cleanup of certain legacy pollutants; invasive species control; and community planning, outreach, and job training.
• Support for Tribes and communities: A Tribal Liaison will be appointed; at least 5% of funds go through the Bureau of Indian Affairs for Tribal projects; and Tribal projects and community capacity projects can be fully federally funded.
• Money rules: The federal share is generally up to 80%. Funds can’t be used for water projects already financed by state revolving funds or WIFIA.
• Guardrails: Projects may not hinder barge navigation or weaken levees and other flood protections, and each project must include a plan to monitor results.
• When: Goals due in 1 year; an action plan due in 2 years; a science forum within 1 year and a science plan within 2 years after the forum; updates at least every 5 years.
• Budget and coordination: The Environmental Protection Agency must request a separate budget line for this program each year. Other federal agencies report annually, look for new projects, and keep their base Mississippi River work funded.