# Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act
This legislation establishes the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI), a comprehensive federal program to protect and restore the Mississippi River and its ecosystem. The bill creates a new Mississippi River National Program Office within the Environmental Protection Agency, headed by a director who will coordinate restoration efforts across multiple federal agencies and work with states, tribes, and local communities. The program will fund projects addressing five main priorities: improving water quality, enhancing community flood resilience, protecting fish and wildlife habitats, preventing invasive species, and improving scientific monitoring and partnerships.
The bill affects the ten states bordering the Mississippi River (Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin) and the millions of people who depend on the river for drinking water, transportation, commerce, and recreation. The legislation gives priority to projects benefiting economically disadvantaged and rural communities, with requirements that at least 25 percent of funds support such communities and at least 10 percent go to persistently poor counties. Federal funding will cover up to 80 percent of project costs for most entities, with 100 percent coverage for tribal governments and projects serving disadvantaged communities.
The bill does not specify total funding amounts but requires the EPA to request MRRRI funding as a separate budget line item and mandates that at least 5 percent of funds be transferred to the Bureau of Indian Affairs for tribal projects. The program includes timelines requiring the director to develop measurable goals within one year and an action plan within two years, with updates every five years. The legislation also establishes four research centers to study Mississippi River restoration and requires a comprehensive science plan to guide long-term efforts.