Paul Tonko (D-NY)
New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 5 Republican cosponsors · See all 27 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- 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
- Scored +8
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill establishes a program to coordinate restoration and protection of fish, wildlife habitats, and water quality.
- Scored +5
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill provides higher federal funding shares for small and rural communities.
- Scored +5
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
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
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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)).
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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)).
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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)).
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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. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill provides higher federal funding shares for small and rural communities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes disadvantaged communities and provides higher federal funding shares for them. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill targets environmental justice and urban water partnership workplans within the watershed. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill addresses environmental injustice which aims for the fair treatment of all people regardless of national origin or race. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill improves public access to rivers and shore fronts for personal recreation.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill establishes a program to coordinate restoration and protection of fish, wildlife habitats, and water quality. Does this put more money into wind, solar and other renewable power? — The bill promotes the use of natural climate solutions and green infrastructure to increase resilience. Does this improve buses, trains and other public transport? — The bill supports green infrastructure which can assist in stormwater management goals.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes the needs of communities experiencing environmental injustice, which includes the fair treatment of people regardless of race. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill provides increased federal funding shares to support disadvantaged communities.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill seeks to increase scientific capacity to support planning, monitoring, and research activities in the watershed.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill aims to increase workforce development in the watershed through restoration and protection activities.
- 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