H.R. 2977: Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act

This bill, titled the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act, seeks to create a comprehensive initiative aimed at protecting and restoring the ecological health of the Mississippi River and its surrounding areas. The initiative is designed to benefit both the environment and communities that rely on this vital waterway, and it sets out several key objectives.

Purpose of the Initiative

The main purpose is to:

• Establish a Mississippi River National Program Office to manage the initiative.
• Identify focus areas and qualifying activities for restoration projects.
• Develop actionable goals, plans, and criteria for measuring the initiative’s success.
• Ensure collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and local stakeholders.
• Create Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers for scientific research.

Key Focus Areas

Projects under this initiative will target specific areas, including:

• Improving water quality, particularly by reducing pollution and agricultural runoff.
• Enhancing community resilience to floods and storms by restoring wetlands and floodplains.
• Protecting and restoring habitats for fish and wildlife.
• Preventing the spread of invasive aquatic species.
• Promoting effective communication and partnership among stakeholders.
• Collecting and analyzing scientific data to assess and guide restoration efforts.

Implementation of Projects

The initiative will allow for:

• Fund allocation to implement eligible projects by federal and non-federal entities.
• Grants to be awarded to organizations with qualified proposals that meet the initiative’s objectives.
• Collaboration with relevant federal agencies in selecting projects that address restoration goals.

Annual Reporting and Accountability

The MRRRI Director will be responsible for:

• Providing annual reports to Congress detailing progress and implementations.
• Engaging with tribal governments to ensure their needs and priorities are considered.
• Establishing a monitoring plan for each project to track ecological success and ensure fiscal responsibility.
• Regularly updating the initiative's goals and plans based on evolving scientific data and stakeholder input.

Funding Mechanisms

The initiative will require appropriations, which must be managed effectively:

• Federal funds can cover up to 80% of project costs, allowing for non-federal entities to match funding.
• A minimum of 5% of available funds will be reserved for tribal projects and initiatives.
• Funds will not duplicate existing federal programs' funding for Mississippi River-related activities.

Research and Science Plan

To support its goals, the bill mandates:

• The creation of a Mississippi River science forum to address data needs and research priorities.
• The establishment of research centers dedicated to studying and monitoring the Mississippi River Corridor.
• Development of a science plan to outline research priorities and metrics for the initiative’s objectives.

Definitions and Operational Structure

The bill includes definitions for key terms related to its implementation, clarifying the roles of the MRRRI Director, participating federal agencies, and the Mississippi River Corridor, which encompasses various states along the river’s watershed.

Relevant Companies

• DVN (Devon Energy Corp): As a major player in the energy sector, initiatives focusing on water quality and environmental health could influence regulations surrounding water use and management practices that might impact energy extraction methods in the region.
• XYL (Xylem Inc.): As a company that specializes in water technology, Xylem could benefit from new projects seeking to enhance water management systems and technologies as part of the initiative.
• ADBE (Adobe Inc.): Though indirectly connected, the company may be affected through partnerships or sustainability initiatives, emphasizing the importance of ecological impact assessments in software applications regarding environmental data.