Th D L Ri B I the Delaware River Basin Goes to DC to DC

The DlDelaware River BiBasin Goes to DC Congressional and Legislative Opportunities in the 112th Congress February 2, 2011 Rachel Dawson Ashlie Strackbein Northeast –Midwest Institute National Fish & Wildlife Foundation National Fish and Wildlife Foundation • Created by Congress in 1984 • Mission to leverage public monies with private resources • Works with 14 federal agencies and more than 50 pritivate fdfunders • Competitive grant programs with low administrative costs • Established funder in the Delaware River Basin and other nationally significant watersheds Northeast‐Midwest Institute • A Washington‐bdbased, non‐partisan research organization • Dedicated to economic vitality, environmental quality, and regional equity • Conducts research, advances innovative policy, evaluates key federal programs, highlights sound economic and environmental techlhnologies and practices • Unique among policy centers –ties to bipartisan Northeast‐Midwest House and Senate Coalitions and a series of issue‐ and placed‐based task forces Delaware River Basin Task Force • CtdCreated in 1999 • Includes U.S. Representatives of all four Basin states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware • Four co‐chairs, bipartisan • Holds briefings, explores legislative and appropriations opportunities, tracks federal programs • DELAWARE – John C. Carney D • NEW JERSEY – 1 ‐ Robert E. Andrews D – 2 ‐ Frank A. LoBiondo R – 3 ‐ Jon Runyan R – 4 ‐ Christopher H. Smith R – 5 ‐ Scott Garrett R – 7 ‐ Leonard Lance R – 11 ‐ Rodney P. Frelinghuysen R – 12 ‐ Rush D. Holt D • NEW YORK – 19 ‐ Nan A. S. Hayworth R – 20 ‐ Christopher P. Gibson R – 21 ‐ Paul Tonko D – 22 ‐ Maurice D. Hinchey D – 24 ‐ Richard L. Hanna R • PENNSYLVANIA – 1 ‐ Robert A. Brady D – 2 ‐ Chaka Fattah D – 6 ‐ Jim Gerlach R – 7 ‐ Patrick Meehan R – 8 ‐ Michael G. Fitzpatrick R – 10 ‐ Tom Marino R – 11 ‐ Lou Barletta R – 13 ‐ Allyson Y. Schwartz D – 15 ‐ Charles W. Dent R – 16 ‐ Joseph R. Pitts R – 17 ‐ Tim Holden D Increasing Resources for the Delaware River Basin • Growing interest at the local level and in Congress to increase federal resources for the River Basin and Estuary • NEMW and NFWF held in‐watershed stakeholder meetings, Summer 2008 • Task Force briefing by PDE, DRBC and NFWF, Spring 2009 • Task Force co‐chairs discussion with EPA, FWS on Capitol Hill, July 2009 • For decades, other “Great Waters” (Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes) have received fdfedera l fdifunding targeted for watershdhed restoration thhhrough EPA programs Delaware River Basin Conservation Act • Legislation introduced in March 2010, H.R. 4698 • Led by Rep. Castle (DE) and co‐sponsored by: Dent (PA), Holt (NJ), Hinchey (NY), Carney (PA), Sestak (PA) and LoBiondo (NJ) • Purpose is to accelerate restoration in the 4‐state region – A voluntary, non‐regulatory approach – Strategic grant‐making and technical assistance – Coordinated implementation of restoration efforts at the federal, regional, state, local level Delaware River Basin Conservation Act • Establishes the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • Institution of a new Basin‐wide partnership for coordinated restoration in consultation with existing management structures • Identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities • Adoption of a single plan for Basin‐wide implementation • Support of locally‐driven, on‐the‐ground projects by non‐ profits, universities, state/local governments, community organizations What’s Next on Capitol Hill • CtidContinued ldleaders hip by DRBTF is critical in a challenging political environment – Discussing re‐introduction in House and intro in Senate – Addressing fiscal and other politica l constittraints • Action by stakeholders is critical – Engage Elected Officials – Share your work –regular communication of priorities and success stories – Participate in grassroots activities to educate Congress To get involved and find more information: www.nemw.org/delaware.

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