119-hr2977

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2977 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 2977

 To establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
Initiative to carry out projects for the protection and restoration of 
 the Mississippi River Corridor, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 April 21, 2025

 Ms. McCollum introduced the following bill; which was 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

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
Initiative to carry out projects for the protection and restoration of 
 the Mississippi River Corridor, and for other purposes.

 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 ``Mississippi River Restoration and 
Resilience Initiative Act'' or the ``MRRRI Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

 It is the purpose of this Act to establish the Mississippi River 
Restoration and Resilience Initiative to protect and restore the 
ecological health and resilience of the Mississippi River for current 
and succeeding generations of Americans and for the fish and wildlife 
that rely on the Mississippi River and its floodplain. The MRRRI is a 
nonregulatory initiative that will build upon existing efforts and 
provide funding for projects and activities to protect and restore the 
nationally significant resources of the Mississippi River by--

    (1) establishing the Mississippi River National Program 
 Office;

    (2) establishing the focus areas and identifying qualifying 
 activities for MRRRI programs and projects;

    (3) directing the development of actionable goals, an 
 action plan, and a science plan, and regular updates to such 
 plans, to guide the MRRRI and ensuring the integration of the 
 MRRRI with other Federal, State, Tribal, and local programs;

    (4) establishing criteria for measuring the success of the 
 MRRRI in restoring the ecological health and resilience of the 
 Mississippi River;

    (5) requiring the Environmental Protection Agency to 
 coordinate and consult with Federal and non-Federal 
 stakeholders to implement the MRRRI; and

    (6) establishing the Mississippi River Corridor Research 
 Centers.

SEC. 3. MISSISSIPPI RIVER RESTORATION AND RESILIENCE INITIATIVE.

 Title I of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``

SEC. 127. MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

 ``

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:
 ``

    (1) Agency.--The term `Agency' means the Environmental 
 Protection Agency.
 ``

    (2) Hypoxia task force.--The term `Hypoxia Task Force' 
 means the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force 
 established pursuant to 

section 603 of the Harmful Algal Bloom 
 and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 4001).
 ``

    (3) MRRRI.--The term `MRRRI' means the Mississippi River 
 Restoration and Resilience Initiative established by this 
 section.
 ``

    (4) Program office.--The term `Program Office' means the 
 Mississippi River National Program Office established by this 
 section.
 ``

    (5) MRRRI director.--The term `MRRRI Director' means the 
 Director of the Mississippi River National Program Office 
 established under this section.
 ``

    (6) Mississippi river corridor.--The term `Mississippi 
 River Corridor' means the portions of the Mississippi River 
 watershed (including tributary watersheds) located in a 
 Mississippi River State.
 ``

    (7) Mississippi river state.--The term `Mississippi River 
 State' means Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, 
 Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, or Wisconsin.
 ``

    (8) Tribal government.--The term `Tribal government' 
 means the recognized governing body of an any Indian tribe, 
 band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or 
 component reservation, individually identified (including 
 parenthetically) in the list published pursuant to 

section 104 
 of the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 
 U.S.C. 5131).
 ``

    (9) Tribal organization.--The term `Tribal organization' 
 has the meaning given such term in 

section 4 of the Indian 
 Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
 5304).
 ``

    (10) Relevant federal agency.--The term `relevant Federal 
 agency' means any of the following agencies:
 ``
        (A) The Department of Agriculture--
 ``
            (i) the Natural Resources Conservation 
 Service; and
 ``
            (ii) the Forest Service.
 ``
        (B) The Department of the Interior, including--
 ``
            (i) the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
 ``
            (ii) the United States Fish and Wildlife 
 Service;
 ``
            (iii) the United States Geological 
 Survey; and
 ``
            (iv) the National Park Service.
 ``
            (C) The Corps of Engineers.
 ``
            (D) The Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 ``
        (E) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
 Administration.
 ``
        (F) The Coast Guard.
 ``
        (G) Any other Federal agency the MRRRI Director 
 determines is relevant.
 ``

    (b) Mississippi River National Program Office.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Administrator shall establish a 
 Mississippi River National Program Office within the Agency to 
 carry out the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
 Initiative.
 ``

    (2) Location.--The Program Office shall be located in a 
 Mississippi River State.
 ``

    (3) Director.--The Program Office shall be headed by a 
 Director, appointed by the Administrator, who has management 
 experience and technical expertise relating to the Mississippi 
 River and who is highly qualified to direct the development of 
 programs and plans on a variety of issues related to 
 restoration of the Mississippi River.
 ``

    (4) Functions.--The MRRRI Director shall--
 ``
        (A) coordinate actions of the Agency that seek to 
 protect and restore the Mississippi River Corridor;
 ``
        (B) develop, implement, and update the MRRRI, 
 actionable goals, and action plan required by this 
 section, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies 
 and non-Federal entities;
 ``
            (C) document information and updates related to 
 the development and implementation of the MRRRI, 
 actionable goals, and action plan and make such 
 information and updates available to the public, 
 including on a public website;
 ``
            (D) facilitate engagement and consultation with 
 Tribal governments and Tribal organizations to ensure 
 Tribal needs and priorities are solicited early and 
 throughout the development of the actionable goals and 
 action plan required by this section;
 ``
        (E) work cooperatively with the Bureau of Indian 
 Affairs and other Federal agencies to carry out 
 subparagraph
            (D) ; and
 ``
        (F) submit to Congress, and make available on a 
 public website, an annual report describing--
 ``
            (i) progress made in implementing the 
 MRRRI;
 ``
            (ii) the coordination of the MRRRI with 
 other Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
 programs;
 ``
            (iii) any funds transferred to relevant 
 Federal agencies under this section;
 ``
            (iv) any grants awarded under this 
 section; and
 ``
            (v) specific projects and activities 
 carried out pursuant to this section.
 ``

    (5) Agreements.--In carrying out paragraph

    (4) , the MRRRI 
 Director may enter into agreements, as applicable, with 
 relevant Federal agencies and non-Federal entities.
 ``

    (6) Tribal liaison.--The MRRRI Director shall appoint a 
 Tribal Liaison within the Program Office to ensure enhanced 
 interagency technical support, communication, and coordination 
 with Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, and Tribal 
 stakeholders, and to carry out other duties as determined 
 necessary to meet the needs of Tribes.
 ``
            (c) Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative.--
 ``

    (1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
 Agency the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience 
 Initiative to implement projects for systemic, large-scale 
 restoration of the Mississippi River Corridor.
 ``

    (2) Focus areas.--Any project or activity carried out 
 under this section shall address at least 1 of the following 
 focus areas:
 ``
        (A) The improvement of water quality in the 
 Mississippi River Corridor and drinking water quality 
 in the Mississippi River States by--
 ``
            (i) reducing the amount of polluted 
 runoff, excess agricultural nutrients, and 
 sediment in the Mississippi River Corridor; and
 ``
            (ii) improving source water protections.
 ``
        (B) The improvement of community resilience 
 throughout the Mississippi River Corridor by restoring 
 the ability of the Mississippi River floodplain, 
 riverine wetlands, delta and coastal wetlands, and 
 backwaters to minimize and ameliorate flood and storm 
 risks.
 ``
            (C) The protection and restoration of fish and 
 wildlife habitat in and along the Mississippi River 
 Corridor.
 ``
            (D) The prevention of the spread of aquatic 
 invasive species in the Mississippi River Corridor.
 ``
        (E) The improvement of communication and 
 partnership activities related to the focus areas 
 described in subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (D) .
 ``
        (F) Monitoring, collecting, and evaluating 
 scientific data to assess the focus areas described in 
 subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (D) .
 ``

    (3) Project implementation.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Funds made available to carry 
 out the MRRRI may be used to implement eligible 
 projects and activities described in paragraph

    (5) that 
 are carried out by a relevant Federal agency or by a 
 non-Federal entity.
 ``
        (B) Grant authority.--The MRRRI Director, or the 
 head of any other Federal agency receiving funds under 
 this section, may make a grant to, or otherwise enter 
 into an agreement with, any non-Federal entity 
 (including any State, local, or Tribal governmental 
 entity, nonprofit organization, institution of higher 
 education (as such term is defined in 

section 101 of 
 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), or 
 individual) that the MRRRI Director or agency head 
 determines is qualified to carry out an eligible 
 project described in paragraph

    (5) .
 ``

    (4) Project selection.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--In carrying out the MRRRI, the 
 MRRRI Director shall collaborate with relevant Federal 
 agencies to select projects and activities to be 
 implemented pursuant to this section using appropriate 
 principles and criteria, including--
 ``
            (i) the selection of an equitable 
 distribution of projects and activities along 
 the entire Mississippi River Corridor;
 ``
            (ii) the ability of a project to achieve 
 strategic and measurable environmental 
 outcomes;
 ``
            (iii) the recognition that projects may 
 provide benefits to local or regional 
 communities or to the entire Mississippi River 
 Corridor;
 ``
            (iv) the feasibility of prompt 
 implementation, timely achievement of 
 measurable results, and resource leveraging; 
 and
 ``
            (v) the opportunity to improve 
 interagency, intergovernmental, and 
 interorganizational coordination and 
 collaboration to reduce duplication and improve 
 measurable environmental outcomes.
 ``
        (B) Compatibility.--The MRRRI Director shall 
 ensure that projects and activities carried out under 
 this section are compatible with--
 ``
            (i) the ability of the Corps of Engineers 
 to maintain navigation in the Mississippi 
 River; and
 ``
            (ii) the structural integrity or 
 effectiveness of Federal, State, local, or 
 Tribal disaster risk reduction infrastructure.
 ``

    (5) Eligible projects.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Funds made available to carry 
 out this section may only be used to implement a 
 project or activity that addresses at least 1 of the 
 focus areas described in paragraph

    (2) and that carries 
 out at least one of the actions described in 
 subparagraph
        (B) .
 ``
        (B) Actions described.--The actions referred to 
 in subparagraph
        (A) are actions that--
 ``
            (i) protect or restore naturally 
 occurring hydrologic, geomorphic, and 
 ecological functions and processes, including 
 the restoration or rehabilitation of wetlands, 
 in-stream habitats (including through 
 reconnection of side channels and backwaters), 
 living shorelines, or upland habitats;
 ``
            (ii) remove or modify structures, 
 including culverts, levees, and dams, to 
 restore--
 ``
            (I) natural hydrology of rivers, 
 streams, floodplains, wetlands, or 
 coasts; or
 ``
            (II) the form, function, or 
 processes of rivers, streams, 
 floodplains, wetlands, or coasts;
 ``
            (iii) permanently protect privately owned 
 lands through fee title acquisition or 
 enrollment into voluntary permanent wetland, 
 flooding, or other conservation easements;
 ``
            (iv) facilitate habitat restoration using 
 responsibly sourced and clean dredged sediment 
 material by covering the cost differential 
 between the Federal standard for dredge 
 disposal and the cost of transportation;
 ``
            (v) relocate, elevate, or demolish, and 
 clean up flood-prone structures, and carry out 
 any related floodplain restoration;
 ``
            (vi) increase water retention and 
 infiltration through actions that promote a 
 healthy soil ecosystem, including maximizing 
 soil cover, maximizing soil biodiversity, and 
 maximizing the presence of living roots;
 ``
            (vii) reduce nonpoint sources of 
 pollution and promote landscape-scale 
 vegetative cover (including perennial grains, 
 perennial woody crops, winter annual cover 
 crops, perennial pasture, and other approaches 
 to maintain year-round vegetative cover) 
 through the implementation of voluntary 
 initiatives developed with the support of 
 market research;
 ``
            (viii) reduce stormwater flows and 
 inflows that contribute to combined sewer 
 overflow events, and accelerate the adoption of 
 urban stormwater pollution prevention minimum 
 control measures through municipal separate 
 storm sewer system permits issued under 

section 402

    (p) ;
 ``
            (ix) facilitate the cleanup of legacy 
 contaminants that are not hazardous substances 
 (as defined in 

section 101 of the Comprehensive 
 Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
 Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9601)) or 
 designated as hazardous substances pursuant to 
 

section 102 of the Comprehensive Environmental 
 Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 
 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9602);
 ``
            (x) control, manage, or eradicate 
 nonnative aquatic invasive species or 
 reintroduce native aquatic species, including 
 through--
 ``
            (I) investments in technology and 
 research to combat the spread of 
 aquatic invasive species;
 ``
            (II) the use of in-river physical 
 deterrent or controls; or
 ``
            (III) the promotion of commercial 
 harvesting of nonnative aquatic 
 species;
 ``
            (xi) build capacity within communities to 
 undertake MRRRI projects to address the effects 
 of the ecological degradation of the 
 Mississippi River Corridor, including through--
 ``
            (I) community based participatory 
 research;
 ``
            (II) project or community-wide 
 planning;
 ``
            (III) outreach and community 
 engagement; or
 ``
            (IV) restoration-related job 
 training and workforce development; or
 ``
            (xii) additional actions determined to be 
 eligible pursuant to subsection
            (d) (2)
        (B)
            (v) .
 ``
            (C) Protection against invasive plant species.--
 Funds made available to carry out this section may not 
 be used for a project or activity that proposes to use 
 a plant that has an elevated risk of becoming invasive, 
 as determined by the MRRRI Director through the use of 
 a credible weed risk assessment tool.
 ``

    (6) Monitoring plan.--A Federal agency or non-Federal 
 entity receiving funds to carry out a project or activity under 
 this section shall develop a detailed plan for monitoring the 
 implementation and ecological success of such project or 
 activity, as applicable, that--
 ``
        (A) describes criteria for ecological success by 
 which the project will be evaluated based on 
 replacement of lost functions and values of the 
 Mississippi River Corridor habitat, including 
 hydrologic and vegetative characteristics;
 ``
        (B) identifies an entity responsible for such 
 monitoring; and
 ``
            (C) includes continuation of such monitoring 
 until the project is determined to be successful based 
 on documented achievement of the ecological success 
 criteria described under subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``
            (d) Actionable Goals; Action Plans.--
 ``

    (1) Actionable goals.--Not later than 1 year after the 
 date of enactment of this section, the MRRRI Director shall 
 develop measurable goals for the MRRRI, including establishing 
 criteria for measuring the success of the MRRRI in addressing 
 the focus areas established in subsection
            (c) (2) and in 
 restoring the overall ecological health and resilience of the 
 Mississippi River Corridor.
 ``

    (2) Action plan.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
 date of enactment of this section, the MRRRI Director 
 shall develop an action plan to make progress on the 
 MRRRI through the implementation of MRRRI projects and 
 activities under subsection
            (c) .
 ``
        (B) Contents.--The MRRRI Director shall include 
 in the action plan developed under subparagraph
        (A) --
 ``
            (i) a description of existing Federal, 
 State, Tribal, and regional plans, programs, 
 and activities affecting the Mississippi River 
 Corridor that may be used to advance the MRRRI;
 ``
            (ii) recommendations for a comprehensive 
 approach to advancing systemic, large-scale 
 restoration of the Mississippi River Corridor 
 that, where appropriate, leverages existing 
 Federal and State programs;
 ``
            (iii) a multi-year plan that identifies 
 objectives within each of the focus areas 
 described in subsection
            (c) (2) , with 
 corresponding commitments for activities, 
 research, and measures for progress;
 ``
            (iv) a plan to monitor the implementation 
 of any recommendations developed under this 
 subparagraph; and
 ``
            (v) a description of any additional 
 actions the Director determines are eligible 
 under this section.
 ``
            (C) Project recommendations.--The action plan 
 described in subparagraph
        (A) may include 
 recommendations for specific projects or activities 
 that advance the objectives developed under 
 subparagraph
        (B)
            (iii) , including timelines, budgets, 
 and the identification of entities responsible for the 
 implementation of such projects.
 ``

    (3) Updates.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Not less than once every 5 
 years, the MRRRI Director shall review and update the 
 actionable goals and action plan developed under this 
 subsection.
 ``
        (B) Integration with science plan.--In updating 
 the action plan pursuant to this paragraph, the MRRRI 
 Director shall incorporate any relevant information 
 contained in the science plan developed pursuant to 
 

section 4

    (b) of the MRRRI Act.
 ``

    (4) Coordination and consultation.--In developing and 
 updating the actionable goals and action plan required under 
 this subsection, the MRRRI Director shall--
 ``
        (A) consult with Mississippi River States, Tribal 
 governments within such States, the Secretary of the 
 Interior, the Chief of Engineers, the Secretary of 
 Agriculture, and the Hypoxia Task Force;
 ``
        (B) engage with relevant Federal agencies, local 
 governments, nongovernmental organizations, 
 institutions of higher education (as defined in 

section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
 1001)), and members of the public; and
 ``
            (C) solicit input from the entities described in 
 subparagraph
        (B) through a formal public notice and 
 comment period.
 ``

    (e) Funding.--
 ``

    (1) Transfer of funds to federal entities.--With funds 
 made available to carry out this section for each fiscal year, 
 the MRRRI Director may--
 ``
        (A) transfer funds to the head of any relevant 
 Federal agency, with the concurrence of the head of 
 such agency, to carry out activities in accordance with 
 this section;
 ``
        (B) transfer funds to other Federal programs to 
 be used for achieving specifically targeted and 
 measurable environmental outcomes that advance the 
 actionable goals developed and updated under subsection
            (d) ; and
 ``
            (C) enter into an interagency agreement with the 
 head of any relevant Federal agency to carry out 
 activities in accordance with this section.
 ``

    (2) Transfer of funds to bureau of indian affairs.--The 
 MRRRI Director shall transfer not less than 5 percent of the 
 funds made available to carry out this section to the Director 
 of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, with the concurrence of such 
 Director, to make grants or otherwise enter into agreements 
 with Tribal governments or Tribal organizations to carry out 
 projects or activities under this section.
 ``

    (3) Availability of funds to implement projects prior to 
 completion of the first action plan.--Before the date on which 
 the first action plan is developed under subsection
            (d) (2) , the 
 MRRRI Director may transfer funds to another Federal entity, or 
 award a grant or otherwise enter into an agreement with a non-
 Federal entity, to--
 ``
        (A) carry out projects or activities that meet 
 the requirements of subsection
            (c) (5) ; or
 ``
        (B) establish the research centers required under 
 

section 4

    (a) of the MRRRI Act.
 ``

    (4) Cost share.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
 subparagraph
        (B) , the Federal share of the cost of a 
 project or activity carried out by a non-Federal entity 
 under this section shall not exceed 80 percent of the 
 total cost of the project or activity.
 ``
        (B) Exception.--The Federal share of the cost of 
 a project or activity carried out by a Tribal 
 government or Tribal organization under this section, 
 and the Federal share of the cost of a project or 
 activity described in subsection
            (c) (5)
        (B)
            (xi) carried 
 by a non-Federal entity, shall be 100 percent of the 
 total cost of the project or activity.
 ``
            (C) In-kind contribution.--The non-Federal share 
 of the cost of a project or activity carried out under 
 this section may include the value of an in-kind 
 contribution provided by a non-Federal entity.
 ``

    (5) Limitations.--No funds made available to carry out 
 this section may be used for any water infrastructure activity 
 for which financial assistance is received under--
 ``
        (A) a State water pollution control revolving 
 fund established under 

section 603;
 ``
        (B) a State drinking water treatment revolving 
 loan fund established under 

section 1452 of the Safe 
 Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12); or
 ``
            (C) the Water Infrastructure Finance and 
 Innovation Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 3901 et seq.).
 ``

    (f) Set Aside for Action Plan.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--Of the total amount of funds made 
 available to carry out the MRRRI under this section for each 
 fiscal year beginning with the first fiscal year after which 
 the action plan required under subsection
            (d) (2) is developed, 
 not more than 5 percent may be used for projects and activities 
 that are eligible under subsection
            (c) (5) , but that do not 
 address an objective identified in the action plan under 
 subsection
            (d) (2)
        (B)
            (iii) .
 ``

    (2) Priority.--In using funds under subparagraph
        (A) , the 
 MRRRI Director shall prioritize projects that reduce the 
 effects of natural disasters or respond to emerging threats 
 from natural disasters.
 ``

    (g) Activities by Other Federal Agencies.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The head of a relevant Federal agency 
 that is engaged in, or has authority over, programs relating to 
 research, monitoring, and planning to maintain, enhance, 
 preserve, or rehabilitate the environmental quality and natural 
 resources of the Mississippi River shall--
 ``
        (A) submit an annual report to the Administrator 
 describing the activities of the agency relating to the 
 MRRRI;
 ``
        (B) strive to identify new projects and 
 activities to support the goals of the MRRRI;
 ``
            (C) ensure that any funding provided through the 
 MRRRI supplements, and does not supplant, funding 
 obtained through other agency budgets or other sources 
 of funds for activities related to the Mississippi 
 River; and
 ``
            (D) strive to maintain, and where possible 
 increase, the base level of funding for activities of 
 such agency related to the Mississippi River, without 
 regard to funding under the MRRRI.
 ``

    (h) Budget Item.--
 ``

    (1) In general.--The Administrator shall, in the Agency's 
 annual budget submission to Congress, include a funding request 
 for the MRRRI as a separate budget line item.
 ``

    (2) Inclusion.--The budget justification for the budget 
 line item described in paragraph

    (1) shall include the amount 
 to support the operation and activities of the Program Office.
 ``
            (i) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
construed to--
 ``

    (1) waive any requirement under any applicable Federal 
 environmental law, including--
 ``
        (A) this Act;
 ``
        (B) the National Environmental Policy Act (42 
 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.);
 ``
            (C) the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
 seq.); or
 ``
            (D) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 
 1934 (16 U.S.C. 662 et seq.); or
 ``

    (2) supplant the functions of the Hypoxia Task Force.''.

SEC. 4. MISSISSIPPI RIVER CORRIDOR RESEARCH CENTERS AND SCIENCE PLAN.

    (a) Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
 coordinate with the MRRRI Director to establish a network of 3 
 Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers within the United 
 States Geological Survey.

    (2) Location.--The network of research centers established 
 under paragraph

    (1) shall consist of--
        (A) a National Mississippi River Corridor Research 
 Center located at an office of the United States 
 Geological Survey; and
        (B) 2 regional research centers, each of which 
 shall be based out of a host university, as follows:
            (i) An Upper Mississippi River Research 
 Center located in the region from the 
 headwaters of the Mississippi River to the 
 confluence of the Ohio River.
            (ii) A Lower Mississippi River Research 
 Center located in the region downriver from the 
 confluence of the Ohio River to the Gulf of 
 Mexico.

    (3) Functions.--The functions of the research centers 
 established under this subsection shall be to--
        (A) conduct scientific research on the MRRRI focus 
 areas described in 

section 127
            (c) (2) of the Federal 
 Water Pollution Control Act (as added by this Act);
        (B) consult with and advise relevant Federal 
 agencies on--
            (i) the improvement of programs that 
 monitor water quality in the Mississippi River 
 Corridor and the health of the Mississippi 
 River Corridor habitat or the establishment of 
 such programs, where necessary;
            (ii) the impact of projects and activities 
 carried out under the MRRRI; and
            (iii) any additional goals, priorities, 
 metrics, and research objectives proposed as 
 part of the science plan described in 
 subsection

    (b)

    (2) ; and
            (C) consult, and to the extent practicable, 
 collaborate with relevant Federal agencies and non-
 Federal entities regarding research, monitoring, and 
 other efforts to promote the restoration and resiliency 
 of the Mississippi River Corridor.

    (4) Integration with other federal activities.--The 
 Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that research and other 
 activities carried out under this subsection are carried out in 
 coordination with other Federal research and monitoring 
 activities related to efforts to promote the restoration and 
 resiliency of the Mississippi River Corridor.

    (b) Science Plan.--

    (1) Mississippi river science forum.--
        (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
 date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
 United States Geological Survey shall host a 
 Mississippi River science forum with relevant Federal 
 agencies, Mississippi River States, Tribal governments, 
 Tribal organizations, academia, and other non-Federal 
 entities to--
            (i) share current science and identify data 
 gaps and areas of concern related to the 
 ecological health of the Mississippi River 
 Corridor; and
            (ii) determine the resources that are 
 necessary to--
            (I) address any data gaps and areas 
 of concern identified under clause
            (i) ; 
 and
            (II) develop an integrated science 
 plan under paragraph

    (2) .
        (B) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the 
 Director of the United States Geological Survey hosts 
 the Mississippi River science forum under subparagraph
        (A) , the Director shall submit a report on the findings 
 from such forum to--
            (i) the Administrator of the Environmental 
 Protection Agency;
            (ii) the MRRRI Director;
            (iii) the Committee on Appropriations, the 
 Committee on Natural Resources, and the 
 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
 of the House of Representatives; and
            (iv) the Committee on Appropriations and 
 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
 of the Senate.

    (2) Science plan development.--
        (A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
 conclusion of the Mississippi River science forum 
 required by paragraph

    (1) , the Director of the United 
 States Geological Survey shall develop a science plan 
 that establishes priorities, metrics, and research 
 proposals for the MRRRI.
        (B) Submission.--Upon completion of the science 
 plan developed under this paragraph, the Director of 
 the United States Geological Survey shall make such 
 plan available on a public website and submit such plan 
 to the MRRRI Director to inform the implementation of 
 the actionable goals and action plans developed for the 
 MRRRI under 

section 127
            (d) of the Federal Water 
 Pollution Control Act (as added by this Act).
            (C) Updates.--Not less than once every 5 years, the 
 Director of the United States Geological Survey shall 
 coordinate with the MRRRI Director and the research 
 centers established under subsection

    (a) to review and 
 update the science plan developed under this 
 subsection.
            (D) Coordination.--In developing and updating the 
 science plan, the Director shall solicit input and 
 comment from the public through a formal public notice 
 and comment period.

SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act, the terms ``MRRRI'', ``MRRRI Director'', ``Mississippi 
River Corridor'', ``Mississippi River State'', ``relevant Federal 
agency'', ``Tribal government'', and ``Tribal organization'' have the 
meanings given such terms in 

section 127

    (a) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act, as added by this Act.
 <all>