To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make a grant to support research to develop enhanced methods for the long-term control and suppression of the invasive plant species tamarisk in the Colorado River watershed in western Colorado and eastern Utah.

To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to make a grant to support research to develop enhanced methods for the long-term control and suppression of the invasive plant species tamarisk in the Colorado River watershed in western Colorado and eastern Utah.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SEC. 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Tamarisk Research and Control Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. GRANT FOR TAMARISK CONTROL RESEARCH AND RELATED EXTENSION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS.

(a) GRANT AUTHORIZED- The Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, shall make a grant to Mesa State College of Grand Junction, Colorado, to support research and related extension and education efforts of the college to promote the long-term control and suppression of the invasive plant species tamarisk in the Colorado River watershed in western Colorado and eastern Utah.

(b) RESEARCH OBJECTIVES- The principal purpose of the research to be conducted using the grant funds shall be the development of enhanced methods that can be used by individuals or organizations--

(1) for tamarisk control and suppression; and

(2) for revegetation and long-term maintenance of lands reclaimed from tamarisk infestation.

(c) PLAN OF ACTION- The grant recipient shall submit to the Secretary a research proposal describing possible actions to respond to tamarisk infestations and a plan to manage funding, public support, and other resources.

(d) INVENTORY OF TAMARISK INFESTATION- Using a portion of the grant funds, the grant recipient shall conduct an inventory of tamarisk infestation in the Colorado River watershed in western Colorado and eastern Utah and consider the environmental impacts of long-term tamarisk control.

(e) MATCHING FUNDS REQUIREMENT- The grant recipient shall contribute funds toward the research, extension, and education efforts in an amount equal to the amount of the grant.

(f) TIME FOR MAKING GRANT- The Secretary shall make the grant under this section within one year after the date on which funds are first made available to the Secretary to carry out this section.

(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section.