HR831-119

What This Bill Does

The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025 creates an interest-bearing Treasury account for nonfederal contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. It defines the April 4, 2005 Funding and Management Agreement, the Non-Federal Funding Account, nonfederal contributions, and state parties. The fund consists of unexpended nonfederal contributions provided before enactment, future state-party nonfederal contributions, and interest earned on investments. Treasury must deposit prior and future contributions into the fund. Principal amounts are made available to the Interior Secretary without further appropriation for expenditure under program documents and the statute. Interest is available under the applicable appropriation language. Treasury may invest fund balances not currently needed in interest-bearing obligations of the United States. Prior contributions must transfer from the general fund to the new account within 90 days after enactment, and later contributions must transfer as soon as practicable. Once amounts are deposited, state parties are not responsible for investment losses.

Who Benefits and How

Lower Colorado River conservation program managers benefit from a dedicated Treasury account for nonfederal cost-share contributions. State parties to the 2005 agreement benefit because deposited amounts can earn interest and state parties are not responsible for investment losses after deposit. The Interior Secretary benefits from access to principal without further appropriation for program-document expenditures. Treasury investment staff benefit from clear authority to invest unused balances in U.S. obligations. Wildlife conservation partners benefit if program funding is easier to manage and preserve. Water users affected by the multi-species program benefit from more predictable funding administration for habitat and species commitments.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Treasury Secretary must establish the account, deposit prior and future contributions, invest unused balances, transfer prior contributions within 90 days, and track interest. Interior program staff must spend funds consistently with program documents and statutory limits. State parties must continue making nonfederal cost-share contributions under the agreement. Federal budget and appropriations staff must address treatment of interest earnings. Program accountants must distinguish principal from interest and document expenditures. Lower Colorado River stakeholders may face continued program costs tied to the funding agreement.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Non-Federal Funding Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.
• Requires deposit of prior and future state-party nonfederal contributions.
• Authorizes Treasury investment of unused balances in interest-bearing U.S. obligations.
• Provides the Interior Secretary access to principal without further appropriation for program-document expenditures.
• Requires transfer of prior contributions within 90 days and later contributions as soon as practicable.
• Protects state parties from investment losses after amounts are deposited.