January 29, 2025
Mr. Padilla (for himself, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
To establish an interest-bearing account for the non-Federal contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Interest-bearing fund
Section 9402 of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 1328) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(c) Interest-Bearing account for non-Federal contributions
(1) Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) Agreement
The term
Agreementmeans the agreement entitled theLower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Funding and Management Agreementand dated April 4, 2005.(B) Fund
The term
Fundmeans the Non-Federal Funding Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program established by paragraph (2).(C) Non-Federal contribution
The term
non-Federal contributionmeans an amount contributed by a State Party for the non-Federal cost share described in section 8 of the Agreement.(D) State party
The term
State Partyhas the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Agreement.(2) Establishment
There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund, to be known as the
Non-Federal Funding Account for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, consisting of—(A)
any amounts deposited in the Fund under paragraph (3); and
(B)
any interest earned on investment of amounts in the Fund under paragraph (4).
(3) Deposits to fund
(A) In general
Pursuant to section 8.4 of the Agreement, the Secretary of the Treasury shall deposit in the Fund—
(i)
any unexpended non-Federal contributions provided before the date of enactment of this subsection; and
(ii)
any non-Federal contributions provided on or after the date of enactment of this subsection.
(B) Availability of amounts; expenditure
Amounts deposited in the Fund under subparagraph (A) and any interest on those amounts in the Fund shall be made available to the Secretary, without further appropriation, for expenditure—
(i)
as provided in the Program Documents; and
(ii)
in accordance with this section.
(4) Investment of amounts
(A) In general
The Secretary of the Treasury may invest any portion of the Fund that is not, as determined by the Secretary, required to meet the current needs of the Fund.
(B) Requirement
Investments under subparagraph (A) may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.
(5) Transfers of amounts
(A) Transfer of previously contributed funds
The amounts required to be deposited in the Fund under paragraph (3)(A)(i) shall be transferred from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this subsection.
(B) Transfer of future contributed funds
As soon as practicable after the date on which amounts described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii) are contributed, those amounts shall be transferred to the Fund.
(C) Responsibility of State Parties
In accordance with the Agreement, on deposit of amounts in the Fund under paragraph (3), the State Parties shall not be responsible for any losses due to investment of those amounts the Fund.