Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Delaware River Basin Restoration Program Reauthorization Act of 2025 updates the WIIN Act Delaware River Basin conservation program. It adds Maryland to the program's state list, changes the program's regional framing from four states to five states, and inserts Maryland wherever the program lists covered states. It also allows the Secretary to give priority to grant projects that serve small, rural, or disadvantaged communities. Finally, it extends the program authorization from 2023 to 2032. The bill expands who is inside the Delaware River Basin restoration framework and extends the federal grant program for nearly a decade.
Who Benefits and How
Maryland communities in the basin benefit because Maryland is added to the Delaware River Basin restoration framework. Small, rural, and disadvantaged communities benefit from explicit grant-priority language. Watershed restoration organizations benefit from program reauthorization through 2032. State environmental agencies benefit from a five-state conservation program with continued federal support.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The Secretary must administer grant priorities and update program materials to include Maryland. Federal taxpayers bear the cost of continued Delaware River Basin restoration grants through 2032. Existing four-state program participants may face more competition for grant funding after Maryland is added. Grant applicants must align projects with basin restoration priorities and community-priority criteria.
Key Provisions
- Adds Maryland to the Delaware River Basin conservation program.
- Changes statutory references from a four-state to a five-state program.
- Authorizes priority for projects serving small, rural, or disadvantaged communities.
- Extends program authorization from 2023 to 2032.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Adds Maryland to the Delaware River Basin conservation program, changes the program from four-state to five-state, prioritizes small rural or disadvantaged communities, and reauthorizes the program through 2032.
Key Policy Areas
Environment, Water, Federal Grants
Primary Purpose
Adds Maryland to the Delaware River Basin conservation program, changes the program from four-state to five-state, prioritizes small rural or disadvantaged communities, and reauthorizes the program through 2032.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Maryland communities
- Small rural communities
- Watershed restoration organizations
- State environmental agencies
Identified Costs
- Interior Department
- Federal taxpayers
- Existing program participants
- Grant applicants
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Fitzpatrick (for himself, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Ms. Sherrill, …
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition …
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Maryland communities, Watershed restoration organizations
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology