The New York-New Jersey Watershed Protection Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It has been sent to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for review. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Senate
House
President
Law
Unlikely to pass
While the bill has strong support from the region's senators, it faces the typical challenges of new spending bills. It will likely need to be included in a larger environmental package to pass.
How we got here
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
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Reintroduced
Reintroduced from S. 1335 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
This bill creates a new federal program to coordinate the cleanup and protection of the New York-New Jersey Watershed. This area includes all the land and water that drains into the New York-New Jersey Harbor, including various rivers and estuaries.
It sets up a grant program to give money to local governments and non-profits for projects like improving water quality and protecting fish and wildlife. The bill authorizes $20 million in spending every year from 2026 through 2031.
A major goal is to help communities that have historically faced more pollution or have less access to nature. For these specific neighborhoods, the federal government could pay for up to 100 percent of the project costs instead of the usual 50 percent.
The program focuses on using natural solutions to fight climate change. This includes building things like living shorelines and green spaces that help soak up floodwater and protect against rising sea levels.
The Secretary of the Interior would lead the effort but must work closely with state leaders in New York and New Jersey. They will also consult with Tribal leaders and local groups to make sure the restoration work matches the needs of the community.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
2 milestones2 actions
Sep 29, 2025Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Sep 29, 2025
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
