Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Key Committee Passage of Nearly $13 Million for Maryland Water Infrastructure, Investments in Chesapeake Bay Restoration

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, and Senator Ben Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (both D-Md.) announced the inclusion of $12,900,000 in key Senate Committee legislation providing direct federal funding for community-led projects throughout Maryland. These community projects, funded at the Senators’ request, are within the Senate Appropriations Interior and Environment Subcommittee’s proposed funding legislation for fiscal year 2025. The projects support improving water infrastructure for Marylanders, preserving local historic sites, driving economic development, and more. Additionally, the Senators worked to continue funding for key initiatives supporting Chesapeake Bay restoration, including the Chesapeake Bay Program, the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Network, and the Chesapeake WILD program – which was created by bipartisan legislation authored by Senator Van Hollen and co-sponsored by Senator Cardin. This subcommittee legislation, released as part of the annual Congressional Appropriations process and approved Thursday in a bipartisan vote by the full Senate Appropriations Committee, will proceed to consideration before the full Senate. Funding is not finalized until the Appropriations bills are passed by the full Senate, reconciled with the House of Representatives, and signed by the President.

“When we invest federal dollars in our communities, we’re able to directly support local priorities. These funds will empower our community partners to update our water infrastructure, improving Marylanders’ access to clean water. We also worked to secure funds for the preservation of important historical sites across our state, ensuring Marylanders and visitors alike can enjoy these treasures for years to come, while in turn supporting local economies. In addition to our community projects, this bill includes critical funding to protect Maryland’s greatest natural treasure – the Chesapeake Bay – and safeguard our environment for all. We’ll keep working to deliver these investments to build an even stronger Maryland for all,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“The conservation and preservation of Maryland’s critical resources is always a top priority. Investing in projects to upgrade our water infrastructure, protect the health of the Chesapeake Bay and broader environment and fulfill longstanding needs for historic, recreational and economic development projects make more connected, resilient and sustainable communities for generations to come,” said Senator Cardin. “We’re continuing our ongoing effort to bring new federal resources back to Maryland and maximize the use of taxpayer dollars in the most meaningful way for our communities.”

These projects were included in the Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies FY2025 funding legislation.

Project Name: Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority for Sediment Testing and Remediation
Applicant: Canal Place Preservation & Development Authority (CPPDA)
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to conduct sediment analysis of areas above and below the Cumberland Dam in order to determine if contamination is present before the possible removal of the dam.
Project Location: Allegany County
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: City of Westminster for Advanced Water Purification System
Applicant: City of Westminster
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to support the first indirect water reuse facility in Maryland. Located in the City of Westminster, this facility will provide an additional 1 million gallons of water service to 38,000 users within Carroll County, which has experienced drought conditions over the past 20 years.
Project Location: Carroll County
Amount Included: $2,900,000

Project Name: Easton Utilities Commission for Pump Station Enhancement
Applicant: Easton Utilities Commission
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to relocate the sewage treatment facilities out of flood-prone areas and make upgrades to eliminate the immediate threat of sewage overflow into the Chesapeake Bay during storm events and ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of the region's water quality.
Project Location: Talbot County
Amount Included: $2,868,000

Project Name: Garrett County Sanitary District for Gorman Water Source Project
Applicant: Garrett County Sanitary District, Inc.
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to provide water source redundancy with a new production well to replace the previous well that collapsed.
Project Location: Garrett County
Amount Included: $854,000

Project Name: Garrett Park Town Hall
Applicant: Town of Garrett Park
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to renovate the historic Garrett Park Town Hall to restore the historic character and make it ADA-accessible. The Town Hall is used for community events and meetings.
Project Location: Montgomery County
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: Historic Grounds Restoration at President Lincoln’s Cottage
Applicant: President Lincoln’s Cottage
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to restore the historic grounds of President Lincoln’s Cottage. This project will build on investments already made and enhance this important presidential site ahead of the United States semi-quincentennial in 2026.
Project Location: Washington, D.C.
Amount Included: $325,000

Project Name: Howard County for Storm Water Management
Applicant: Howard County Government
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to design a new parking lot to reduce impervious surface area and treat and retain stormwater to prevent flooding which affects residents, businesses, and visitors.
Project Location: Howard County
Amount Included: $1,500,000

Project Name: Mount Clare Museum
Applicant: Mount Clare Museum
Project Purpose: Funds will be used for exterior restoration and repair work at the Mount Clare Museum site, an 18th-century industrial plantation in Baltimore. Mount Clare was home to the Carroll family and more than 200 enslaved servants, laborers, and artisans who built and sustained the property.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $161,000

Project Name: Prince George’s County for Flood Forecasting Tool
Applicant: Prince George’s County Government
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to expand the capabilities of the County's flood warning system to automate flood inundation forecasts utilizing real-time rain and water level data, rainfall predictions, and historical flooding patterns.
Project Location: Prince George's County
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: Revitalization and Restoration of the North and South Park Squares of Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore City
Applicant: Mount Vernon Place Conservancy, Inc.
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to support the restoration of Mount Vernon Place, the site of Baltimore's Washington Monument and home to community events like Flower Mart and the Summer in the Square music program.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $500,000

Project Name: S.S. John W. Brown Educational Museum Improvements
Applicant: Project Liberty Ship, Inc. / S.S. John W. Brown
Project Purpose: The S.S. John W. Brown is one of the last two surviving World War II Liberty Ships still in operation and today it serves as a museum and educational site. Funds will be used to upgrade the air compressor system to be more reliable and environmentally-friendly.
Project Location: Baltimore City
Amount Included: $112,000

Project Name: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse
Applicant: Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to restore and repair the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, an iconic landmark in the Chesapeake Bay that will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2025.
Project Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Amount Included: $73,000

Project Name: Town of Greensboro for Regional Wastewater System Expansion
Applicant: Town of Greensboro
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to facilitate enhanced nitrogen removal processes in the regional wastewater system that serves towns in northern Caroline County.
Project Location: Caroline County
Amount Included: $1,566,000

Project Name: Town of Princess Anne for Somerset Landing Storm Drainage
Applicant: Town of Princess Anne
Project Purpose: Funds will be used to repair or replace ineffective culverts and storm drain infrastructure to minimize impacts of future flooding incidents.
Project Location: Somerset County
Amount Included: $541,000

Additional priorities secured by the Senators in the FY25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill include:

• Chesapeake Bay Programs: The bill supports the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay, providing $92.5 million for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program; $8.5 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Chesapeake WILD Program; $3.1 million for the National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Network; and report language highlighting the important functions of the Chesapeake Bay Office in Annapolis, Maryland.

• The bill provides $9.3 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) critical responsibilities protecting our environment and people’s health. The bill provides increases across all EPA programs – including in the clean water, clean air, climate, and toxic programs – and keeps all biologists, chemists, researchers, engineers, and other specialists on the job. This includes:
• $383.2 million for environmental justice enforcement programs.
• $72.4 million for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. WIFIA provides financing for water infrastructure projects and has supported critical wastewater, drinking water, and flood mitigation projects in Maryland. The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, which similarly support water a wide array of water infrastructure projects, are funded at $2.76 billion.
• $41 million for EPA Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Grants. This grant funding helps municipalities address stormwater management challenges, which in turn help reduce flooding and pollution, protecting public health and important water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay.

• $21.5 million for National Scenic and Historical Trails. Maryland is home to the Captain John Smith Chesapeake, the Star-Spangled Banner, and the Washington-Rochambeau National Historic Trails.
  
  
• $94.5 million for Urban Indian Health programs, a $4.1 million increase over FY24. This funding supports healthcare programs for tribal members and descendants. Maryland is home to American Indian and Alaska Native communities and three State-recognized Tribes: the Piscataway Indian Nation, Piscataway Conoy Tribe, and Accohannock Tribe. Due to a history of government policies that forced Native American relocation and assimilation, many Tribal members now live off reservations in urban settings. Ensuring access to comprehensive, culturally relevant health care is critical for our American Indian and Alaska Native communities – in Baltimore and beyond – especially important given that American Indian and Alaska Native people continue to face significant disparities in health outcomes and coverage.
  
  
• $15.8 billion for the Department of the Interior, a $698 million increase over FY24, to protect and manage our national parks, national wildlife refuges, and other federal lands, conserve and protect wildlife, and more. This includes $1.47 billion for the Bureau of Land Management, $1.76 billion for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and $3.49 billion for the National Park Service. Within NPS’ overall funding:
• $30.6 milion for the National Heritage Partnership Program, a $1.4 million increase over FY24, a funding boost to reflect the needs of newly designated heritage areas such as the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area.
• $11 million for the National Park Foundation (NPF), an increase of $1 million over FY24. NPF is the official nonprofit partner of NPS. With this funding, NPF will catalyze private investment and create partnerships to invest in programs and projects across our National Parks.

• Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): The bill provides $900 million for federal land acquisition and financial assistance to states provided through the LWCF under the Great American Outdoors Act. This program is critical for improving recreational access to our federal lands, protecting iconic landscapes, delivering grants to states and local governments to create and protect urban parks and open spaces, and providing farmers and ranchers with easements to allow them to continue to steward their private lands in the face of development pressures. This includes:
• $750,000 to FWS for land acquisition at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland; and
• $300,000 to NPS for acquisition at Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland.

• National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund: As visitors flock in record numbers to our public lands, aging infrastructure – such as utility systems, roads, and buildings – continues to deteriorate. The bill restores $53.2 million in funding for construction and maintenance that was cut in fiscal year 2024 from the National Park System, the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the Bureau of Land Management.
• The bill also provides $1.9 billion for deferred maintenance projects for the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Indian Education, and the Forest Service as part of a five-year deferred maintenance initiative under the Great American Outdoors Act. $74 million will go to NPS to repair two Potomac River dams in Maryland that are part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park.

• Report language related to the National Estuary Program: “The Committee supports the National Estuary Program (NEP) and believes that estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that protect human health and public safety. These include water filtration, flood control, habitat, enhancement and restoration, shoreline stabilization, erosion prevention, and the protection of coastal communities during hurricanes and storms. The Committee recognizes that many industries rely on healthy estuaries, and the Committee has provided funding to ensure the protection of these critical ecosystems.”
• National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): $209 million, a $2 million increase over FY24.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): $209 million, a $2 million increase over FY24.