What This Bill Does
This bill amends an existing federal law about water infrastructure to extend and expand conservation programs in the Delaware River Basin. The bill adds Maryland to the list of states included in these programs and changes how much money the federal government must pay for certain water projects.
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Who It Affects
- States in the Delaware River Basin region (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland)
- Small, rural and disadvantaged communities that receive grants for water projects
- The federal agency that administers these conservation programs (the Secretary)
- Grant recipients who apply for project funding
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Key Provisions
- Maryland is added as a state included in the Delaware River Basin conservation programs (Sec. 2(a), (b))
- For water projects that serve small, rural or disadvantaged communities, the federal government must pay 90 percent of the total project cost, with the community paying the remaining 10 percent (Sec. 2(c))
- The Secretary can increase the federal share to 100 percent of project costs if the grant recipient would experience significant financial hardship paying their portion (Sec. 2(c))
- The conservation program authorization extends through 2030 instead of ending in 2023 (Sec. 2(d))
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What Changes
If this bill becomes law, Maryland joins the existing four-state Delaware River Basin program, communities with limited resources receive increased federal funding for water infrastructure projects, and the program continues operating for seven additional years.
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Important Definitions
None defined in bill text.
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II
Calendar No. 212
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 654
To amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act to
reauthorize Delaware River Basin conservation programs, and for other
purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MARCH 6, 2023
Mr. CARPER (for himself, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CASEY, and Mr.
COONS) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
SEPTEMBER 27 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2023
Reported by Mr. CARPER, without amendment
A BILL
To amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the
Nation Act to reauthorize Delaware River Basin con-
servation programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Delaware River Basin
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Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2023’’.
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•S 654 RS
SEC. 2. DELAWARE RIVER BASIN CONSERVATION REAU-
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THORIZATION.
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(a) FINDINGS.—Section 3501(2) of the Water Infra-
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structure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law
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114–322; 130 Stat. 1771) is amended by inserting ‘‘Mary-
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land,’’ after ‘‘Delaware,’’.
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(b) DEFINITIONS OF BASIN AND BASIN STATE.—
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Section 3502 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements
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for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–322; 130 Stat. 1773)
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is amended—
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(1) in paragraph (1)—
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(A) by striking ‘‘4-State’’ and inserting ‘‘5-
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State’’; and
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(B) by inserting ‘‘Maryland,’’ after ‘‘Dela-
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ware,’’; and
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(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘Maryland,’’
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after ‘‘Delaware,’’.
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(c) COST SHARING.—Section 3504(c)(1) of the Water
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Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Public
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Law 114–322; 130 Stat. 1775) is amended—
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(1) by striking ‘‘The Federal share’’ and insert-
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ing the following:
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
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subparagraph (B), the Federal share’’; and
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(2) by adding at the end the following:
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•S 654 RS
‘‘(B) SMALL, RURAL, AND DISADVANTAGED
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COMMUNITIES.—
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause
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(ii), the Federal share of the cost of a
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project funded under the grant program
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that serves a small, rural, or disadvantaged
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community shall be 90 percent of the total
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cost of the project, as determined by the
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Secretary.
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‘‘(ii) WAIVER.—The Secretary may in-
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crease the Federal share under clause (i)
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to 100 percent of the total cost of the
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project if the Secretary determines that the
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grant recipient is unable to pay, or would
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experience significant financial hardship if
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required to pay, the non-Federal share.’’.
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(d) SUNSET.—Section 3507 of the Water Infrastruc-
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ture Improvements for the Nation Act (Public Law 114–
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322; 130 Stat. 1775) is amended by striking ‘‘2023’’ and
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inserting ‘‘2030’’.
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Calendar No. 212
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 654
A BILL
To amend the Water Infrastructure Improvements
for the Nation Act to reauthorize Delaware River
Basin conservation programs, and for other pur-
poses.
SEPTEMBER 27 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2023
Reported without amendment
VerDate Sep 11 2014
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