U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland announced yesterday the unanimous passage of the Chesapeake National Recreation Act by the U.S. Senate.
The bipartisan, bicameral bill, introduced in July 2023 by Van Hollen and Sarbanes, would unite a series of voluntarily contributed sites and iconic Chesapeake Bay properties under the National Park Service (NPS) to create a Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The creation of the CNRA would spur more federal resources for environmental conservation, celebrate the Chesapeake’s diverse cultural and economic history, foster sustainable and equitable access to the Bay, and support responsible economic growth in the region.
After passing the Senate, the CNRA Act must next pass the U.S. House and then be signed by President Joe Biden to become law. The legislation was cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin of Maryland, and Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia.
“The Bay is a treasure to Maryland and to the entire country. And with today’s passage of our Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act, we’re one step closer to recognizing its importance and the opportunities it holds on the national stage. The CNRA will provide greater resources for conversation, increase public access, and support economic opportunity around the Bay. We’ll continue working to get this legislation across the finish line,” Van Hollen said.
The CNRA will increase diverse public access to the Chesapeake Bay and strengthen the culture of stewardship across the region. The CNRA will also highlight the stories that often go untold of Indigenous peoples, free and enslaved Blacks, the role the Bay played in the earliest days of the Maryland and Virginia Colonies, the key part the Bay has played and continues to play in the region’s economy, and the story of watermen and -women who are essential to the economic success and health of the Bay region. Everyone who resides in the region has an important role in Bay conservation and culture.
“The Senate’s passage of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act marks a crucial milestone in our ongoing efforts to safeguard the Chesapeake Bay for the well-being and enjoyment of future generations. This achievement reflects years of bipartisan, bicameral collaboration and the dedicated work of countless stakeholders, including the National Park Service, who have helped shape the vision for the CNRA. I am grateful to all those who have contributed to this effort and look forward to the continued partnerships that will ensure the Bay remains protected, accessible and celebrated for years to come,” Sarbanes said.
According to Cardin, generations of Maryland stories are connected to memories of working, playing and living on the Bay.
“Creation of a Chesapeake Bay National Recreation Area will honor and build on those legacies by making resources more accessible, allowing visitors to better interact with the watershed and understand the importance of environmental stewardship. With the expertise of the National Park Service and other key stakeholders on natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation, we are investing in the long-term prosperity of the Bay,” Cardin said.
The Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act was drafted in collaboration with NPS and the lawmakers’ CNRA Working Group, and in alignment with the 10 guiding principles laid out in June 2022. The legislation also incorporates stakeholder feedback on the lawmakers’ discussion draft, which was released in November 2022. The nearly six-month public comment period included several listening sessions with groups such as local elected officials, neighborhood community organizations and interested parties across the watershed.
Following thorough review of the feedback provided, Van Hollen and Sarbanes officially introduced the CNRA Act in July 2023.
“The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure full of rich history and plays a crucial role in the region’s ecology and economy. I’m thrilled that the Senate passed our legislation to create a unified Chesapeake National Recreation Area to honor that legacy and help foster responsible stewardship and economic growth in the watershed region. I urge our colleagues in the House to pass this legislation as quickly as possible so it can be sent to the president’s desk for signature,” Kaine said.
Warner said passage by the Senate is “a historic step to celebrate and protect the Chesapeake Bay. Establishing the Chesapeake National Recreation Area will enhance conservation, improve access for the public, and preserve this national treasure for generations to come. While there’s more work to do, today the Senate sent a powerful signal about our intent to get this done, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get it across the finish line.”
Van Hollen and Sarbanes garnered support for the legislation from more than 100 stakeholders spanning local elected officials, environmental and historical preservation groups, economic development organizations, racial justice advocates, seafood and outdoor recreation businesses.
Following the introduction of the legislation, further modifications were made based on feedback from the National Park Service (NPS) and bipartisan staff of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff to align the CNRA with established precedent in order to ensure the amended legislation received the committee’s support. The committee approved the legislation on November 19, 2024.
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Rebecca Barnabi
