On Earth Day, Congresswoman Betty McCollum Re-Introduces Mississippi River Restoration Legislation
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) reintroduced the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) Act (H.R. 2977) on Tuesday, aiming to establish a non-regulatory initiative to coordinate restoration and resilience opportunities along the Mississippi River corridor. MRRRI is modeled on the highly successful Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). Upon reintroducing the legislation for the 119th Congress, Congresswoman McCollum issued the following statement:
“I grew up along the Mississippi River in South St. Paul, where I learned to cherish this world-class waterway,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “The river was a vital channel for commerce then, and it still is today. But back then, nobody cared for the Mississippi – and the quality of the water suffered, as did the ecosystem that relies on it. Thanks to those who stepped up to protect it, the Mississippi River remains a working river for the wildlife, families, recreationists, and businesses that depend on it.
“Earth Day is the ideal time to assess the great progress we’ve made, but at the same time, understand the growing risks. From the northernmost headwaters in Lake Itasca to the Middle Mississippi where it meets the Ohio River, and all the way down to the Mississippi Delta, the health of this great river continues to be at risk. Just days ago, the Mississippi River was named ‘America’s Most Endangered River’ by conservation organization American Rivers.
“Flooding and other extreme weather events, pollution, and runoff threaten the river and surrounding communities. The health of the river is critical not just for the sake of the natural beauty, wildlife, and climate change-fighting capabilities of these resources, but for our economy and so our communities can thrive as well. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Act. Future generations are counting on us. We must act with urgency.”
The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative would:
- Improve community resilience to climate change and reduce flood risk by restoring floodplains, riverine wetlands, delta and coastal wetlands, and backwaters
- Improve drinking water quality in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico by reducing polluted runoff
- Protect and restore wildlife habitat throughout the river corridor
- Prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in the river system
Background:
McCollum first introduced the MRRRI Act in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 117th Congress.
The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) would invest in building resilience to increased flooding and storms, improving water quality, restoring wildlife habitat, and stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species. MRRRI would also improve coordination at the federal level around the challenges of protecting and improving the Mississippi River and make additional federal investments all along the Mississippi River Corridor. The initiative would fund community-driven projects, guided by an action plan that is shaped by state, tribal, and local government partners with the input of stakeholders working together to improve the health of America’s River and the communities that rely on it.
The changes to the bill for the 119th Congress are:
- Adding reference to the Hypoxia Task Force as a consulting entity and making clear that MRRRI is not to supplant the functions of the Hypoxia Task Force;
- Removal of the findings section
- Changing the wording of eligible activity (xi) to emphasize building capacity within communities to undertake MRRRI projects
- Removal of funding set-asides and related definitions
- Changing the number of Mississippi River Science Centers to 3 (A National, Upper, & Lower center).
Additional Resources:
- The bill text is available here.
- View a MRRRI fact sheet here.
- Find more information at mccollum.house.gov/MRRRI.
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