# 119-s-1615: Northwest Wetlands Voluntary Incentives Program Act

119-s-1615, Northwest Wetlands Voluntary Incentives Program Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-23).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1615
- As of: 2026-10-23
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-1615
- Congress: 119
- Title: Northwest Wetlands Voluntary Incentives Program Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-05-06
- Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Environmental Protection
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-23

## Summary

**A voluntary regional grant program to restore and maintain wetlands for migratory birds.** The bill would create a Pacific Northwest pilot that offers competitive grants and technical help for habitat restoration across the Oregon and Washington coastal zone and the Columbia River Basin, open to Tribes, landowners, nonprofits, and government agencies. - Landowners, Tribal governments, nonprofits, and Federal or State agencies could apply for competitive grants and grant-funded technical assistance to plan and build habitat restoration projects on public, private, Tribal, or agricultural land. - Projects can fund water infrastructure and management or vegetative habitat work aimed at shorebirds, waterfowl, waterbirds, and passerines, and grant funds may be used for planning and installation but not for routine operation and maintenance. Grants must be spent within four years. - The pilot would authorize $10.0 million per year from 2026 through 2030 and requires grant applicants to provide at least a 25 percent non-Federal match. *Authorizes up to $50.0 million in funding authority from 2026 through 2030 and would create new federal spending authority if those amounts are appropriated.*

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID] (R-ID), 2025-05-06T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Grants get $10 million yearly: benefit, low. If enacted, Congress could fund the pilot with $10 million each year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. Each year, not more than 3 percent could pay program administrative costs. The money must supplement, and not replace, other Secretary habitat restoration funding. Actual grants would depend on…
- New Northwest migratory bird grants: benefit, low. If enacted, the Interior Secretary would set up a voluntary Pacific Northwest migratory bird pilot program. The program would give competitive grants and technical help to eligible groups. Eligible groups could include federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, nonprofits, conservation district…
- Annual reports to Congress: benefit, low. If enacted, the Interior Secretary would send Congress a report about the pilot program. The first report would be due within 180 days after enactment. The Secretary would then send a report every year. Reports must describe each habitat restoration project that received funding.
- Grant rules, limits, and matching: mixed, low. If enacted, grants could pay for planning, permitting, installing, or replacing projects. Grants could not pay for regular operation and maintenance. Applicants that provide at least a 25% non-Federal match could get priority. The match must be secured no later than two years before applying and ca…

## Related bills

- 119-s-891: Bipartisan Health Care Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-3931: TAS Act
- 119-s-836: Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act

## Sources
- [119-s-1615 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1615)

## Related
- [119-s-891: Bipartisan Health Care Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-891)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-3931: TAS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3931)
- [119-s-836: Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-836)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1615 (as of 2026-10-23).