Bill · H.R. 5762· House(119-HR-5762)
New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 10/14/2025
- Last activity
- 10/14/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Paul Tonko
- Cosponsors
- - 22 - 5
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Program to coordinate the protection and restoration of the New York-New Jersey Watershed. The Secretary of the Interior will oversee a nonregulatory program aimed at enhancing fish and wildlife habitats and improving water quality. A key component is the New York-New Jersey Watershed Restoration Grant Program, which provides competitive matching grants to various entities. These funds are intended to support conservation, natural climate solutions, and community engagement. The program also prioritizes addressing environmental justice and increasing scientific capacity. The Act is authorized to run through fiscal year 2031.
Yes· 3 of 12
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+8
The bill establishes a program to coordinate restoration and protection of fish, wildlife habitats, and water quality.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+5
The bill provides higher federal funding shares for small and rural communities.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+5
The bill prioritizes the needs of communities experiencing environmental injustice, which includes the fair treatment of people regardless of race.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Habitat and Water Quality Improvement: The program aims to sustain and enhance fish and wildlife habitats while improving water quality (Section 3(b)(2)(A-B)).
-
Public Recreation Access: The bill seeks to improve opportunities for public access, personal recreation, and enjoyment along rivers and shore fronts (Section 3(b)(2)(B) and Section 3(b)(2)(I)).
-
Climate Resilience: The program advances the use of natural climate solutions and green infrastructure to increase the resilience of communities and natural systems facing climate change impacts (Section 3(b)(2)(C)).
-
Community Support and Workforce Development: Through outreach and education, the program intends to increase capacity, support, and workforce development in the watershed (Section 3(b)(2)(D)).
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Support for Underserved Communities: The program prioritizes the needs of communities experiencing environmental injustice (Section 3(c)(3)(D)) and provides higher federal funding shares—up to 90 or 100 percent—for small, rural, or disadvantaged communities (Section 4(d)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Financial Requirement for Non-Federal Entities: Most grant recipients are required to provide a non-federal share of the total cost of a restoration activity, which can be up to 50 percent (Section 4(d)(1)(A) and Section 4(d)(2)(A)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Urban Residents+4Good For Hispanic Americans+3Good For Middle Class Households+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+8Increases Renewable Energy Investment+4Improves Public Transit+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+5
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+3
- 8/3/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/14/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 25 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Herbert ConawayDemocrat · New Jersey
Brian FitzpatrickRepublican · Pennsylvania
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Daniel GoldmanDemocrat · New York
Laura GillenDemocrat · New York
Thomas KeanRepublican · New Jersey
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
George LatimerDemocrat · New York
Nicole MalliotakisRepublican · New York
Gregory MeeksDemocrat · New York
Grace MengDemocrat · New York
Robert MenendezDemocrat · New Jersey
LaMonica McIverDemocrat · New Jersey
John MannionDemocrat · New York
Analilia MejiaDemocrat · New Jersey
Donald NorcrossDemocrat · New Jersey
Alexandria Ocasio-CortezDemocrat · New York
Frank PalloneDemocrat · New Jersey
Nellie PouDemocrat · New Jersey
Patrick RyanDemocrat · New York
Josh RileyDemocrat · New York
Thomas SuozziDemocrat · New York
Mikie SherrillDemocrat · New Jersey
Ritchie TorresDemocrat · New York
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York
Jefferson Van DrewRepublican · New Jersey
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey