The House voted Wednesday to pass Congresswoman Elaine Luria’s bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act.
H.R. 1620 would fully fund the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program at a level of $455 million over the next five years. The bill also provides funding for local projects.
“I am pleased the House passed my bill that will ensure that our Chesapeake Bay will be clean and thriving for future generations,” Luria said. “In Coastal Virginia, our economy and livelihood depend on the health of the Chesapeake Bay. I urge the Senate to quickly pass this critical legislation that protects this invaluable economic and recreational resource.”
The Chesapeake Bay Program helps coordinate restoration efforts and distributes grants to states for efforts that restore the Chesapeake Bay. By fully funding the Program, Congress will help states, including Virginia, get the resources they need to clean and preserve this natural treasure. Although Congress has continuously provided funding for the Program, it has not been formally reauthorized in law since 2005.
Original House cosponsors of the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act include Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force Co-Chairs Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-03). Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) are leading the effort in the Senate.
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