; and (ii) applicable State environmental laws. (E) Information In participating in an eligible desalination project under this subsection, the Secretary— (i) may rely on reports prepared by the sponsor of the eligible desalination project, including feasibility or equivalent studies, environmental analyses, and other pertinent reports and analyses; but (ii) shall retain responsibility for making the independent determinations described in subparagraph (C). (F) Funding (i) Authorization of appropriations In addition to amounts made available under section 40901(5) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ( 43 U.S.C. 3201(5) ), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this paragraph $150,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, of which not less than $10,000,000 shall be made available during the period for rural desalination projects. (ii) Funding opportunity announcement The Commissioner of Reclamation shall release a funding opportunity announcement for a grant program under this paragraph by not later than 75 days after the date of enactment of an Act that provides funding for the program. . (b) Prioritization of projects Section 4 of the Water Desalination Act of 1996 ( 42 U.S.C. 10301 note; Public Law 104–298 ) is amended by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following: (c) Prioritization In carrying out demonstration and development activities under this section, the Secretary shall prioritize projects— (1) for the benefit of drought-stricken States and communities; (2) for the benefit of States that have authorized funding for research and development of desalination technologies and projects; (3) that demonstrably improve self-reliance on local or regional water supplies in the case of any project sponsors that rely on imported water supplies that have an impact on species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 ( 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. )