; (10) polluted runoff has drastically reduced water quality and created a massive dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico; (11) invasive aquatic species threaten— (A) the ecological integrity of the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico; and (B) the fisheries and recreation organizations in the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico that rely on a healthy ecosystem; (12) ecological degradation of the Mississippi River has resulted in— (A) more flooding; (B) less wildlife; (C) fewer jobs; (D) reduced recreational opportunities; and (E) higher costs for keeping communities safe and ensuring that communities have clean drinking water; (13) the consequences of ecological degradation have disproportionately harmed rural communities, economically disadvantaged communities, and communities of color; and (14) existing Federal programs lack sufficient coordination, funding, and participation with States, Indian Tribes, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations— (A) to address the challenges described in this subsection; and (B) to reverse the decline of the Mississippi River. (b) Purpose The purpose of this Act and the amendments made by this Act is to establish the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative, a nonregulatory initiative— (1) to protect and restore the ecological health and resilience of the Mississippi River for— (A) current and succeeding generations of people of the United States; and (B) the fish and wildlife that rely on the Mississippi River and the floodplain of the Mississippi River; and (2) to build on existing efforts and provide funding for projects and activities to protect and restore the nationally significant resources of the Mississippi River by— (A) establishing the Mississippi River National Program Office; (B) establishing the focus areas for the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative; (C) identifying qualifying activities for the programs and projects of the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative