Andy’s Bill

Andrew J. Young Safeguarding the Mississippi River Together Act or the Andrew J. Young SMRT Act or Andy's Mississippi River Bill or Andy's Bill.

This bill establishes a National Mississippi River Program for the preservation of the Mississippi River Corridor.

The Environmental Protection Agency, coordinating with specified federal departments, may enter into agreements with a state or local government to develop a National Mississippi River Program Office, provide grants, assistance, studies, coordination, and essential restoration and protection of the Mississippi River Corridor to

• sustain essential environmental services;
• maintain the ecological integrity, health, and biodiversity of federal lands as well as lands managed under federal programs;
• protect critical national infrastructure, habitat, fish and wildlife resources; and
• support the major U.S. economies that depend on the Mississippi River.

The Program Office shall develop a comprehensive Mississippi River Restoration Plan to guide implementation of projects to sustain the corridor.

In order to support the plan and for other purposes, the bill establishes a series of ongoing studies and investigations to sustain the corridor.

Once every five years the Program Office shall complete an updated economic profile of the corridor.