DMV Senators Introduce Legislation to Support Chesapeake Bay Restoration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) introduced the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act to reauthorize the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office (CBO), which supports the restoration of the Bay and connects local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and residents to coastal resilience and restoration efforts.

“The Chesapeake Bay is the heart of so many Virginia communities, supporting fisherman and local businesses, offering unique educational opportunities to students, and serving as a hotspot for recreation,” said Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation that works to ensure the Bay remains a resource for generations to come.”

“The Chesapeake Bay plays a critical role in Virginia's economy and seafood industries, and we must take steps to protect the waters and shores of the region,” said Kaine. “The Chesapeake WATERS Act will provide vital training and education for the many stakeholders across our schools, businesses, and nonprofits who want to help preserve and restore the Bay for generations to come.”

“A healthy Chesapeake Bay is vital to the livelihood of communities across our region, and NOAA plays a pivotal role in protecting this natural treasure. This legislation will help ensure that this program has the resources it needs to continue its restoration efforts, environmental education opportunities, and more – supporting the mission of safeguarding the Bay for generations to come,” said Van Hollen.

“The Chesapeake Bay is the heart of Maryland and a treasure for communities all across the mid-Atlantic. I will continue fighting to improve water quality and increase federal funding so the Chesapeake can continue to serve not just Maryland but the entire nation,” said Alsobrooks.

Specifically, the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act:

• Reauthorizes the NOAA CBO, which has been a leading partner in the Bay restoration effort and fishery community. The bill allows the NOAA CBO to collaborate with universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders to promote integrated coastal observations, including monitoring and observing restoration activities in the Bay; collecting and analyzing data related to marine resources; and organizing information for use by policymakers, resource managers, and the public.
• Directs the NOAA to support the coordinated management, protection, characterization, and restoration of Bay habitats and living resources, as well as the Interpretive Buoy System – which collects water quality, meteorological, and oceanographic data used by scientists, fisherman, and those recreating on the Bay – along the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
• Authorizes the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program, a CBO competitive grant program for environmental education projects that connects students throughout the watershed with the Bay.

“All of us who call the Bay home owe a debt of gratitude to NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay office. From cutting-edge climate science, to outdoor education, to leading one of the largest oyster restoration efforts in the world, NOAA is building a stronger future. This bipartisan legislation ensures NOAA can keep doing this vital work. We’re thankful for the leadership of Senator Warner and our other members of Congress around the Bay in the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act,” said Keisha Sedlacek, Senior Policy Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

“The Choose Clean Water Coalition wholeheartedly endorses the Chesapeake WATERS Act, which reauthorizes NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO). Whether through restoring the Bay’s oyster population, protecting striped bass and other native species from the onslaught of invasive blue catfish, or helping steward the next generation through outdoor education experiences, NCBO is a critical player in our work for clean water and healthy communities. It is vital they receive continued support as we enter the next chapter of the Bay restoration effort,” said Kristin Reilly, Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition.

Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA-03), Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Jennifer Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03).

Read the full bill here.

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