Van Hollen, Cardin, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Senators Urge President Biden to Fully Fund Bay Restoration Programs

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), along with fellow Chesapeake Bay State Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.) – Environment and Public Works Committee Chair – Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) have written to President Joe Biden urging him to provide robust funding for Chesapeake Bay programs in his FY2022 budget proposal. Senator Van Hollen, in his role on the Appropriations Committee, has repeatedly fought to secure funding for the Bay Program, including last year’s historic increase to $87.5 million.

“State and local governments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed jurisdictions, federal agencies, and academic, nongovernmental, and other partners have collaborated to restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem for decades,” the Senators wrote. “Now, as the 2025 target to have all practices and controls installed to achieve water quality standards approaches, funding programs that invest in climate solutions, sustainably manage water resources, restore habitat, and strengthen public access for outdoor recreation will advance not only the shared goals and outcomes for the restoration of the Bay, but also bolster the recovery of the regional economy.”

Although the majority of funding for Bay restoration comes from jurisdictions within the watershed, federal agencies have made substantial commitments to this effort, in addition to having long-standing programs and responsibilities that affect the Bay. The Trump administration’s budget requests proposed drastic decreases for this support, including the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, considered the lead federal agency. Fortunately, Congress rejected the proposal on a bipartisan basis.

The Senators continued, “The health of the Chesapeake Bay is improving over time as a result of these investments, reflected in improved dissolved oxygen levels and successful large-scale oyster restoration. However, challenges remain, including financing stormwater and wastewater infrastructure upgrades and agricultural best management practices, as well as continuing to reduce pollution despite pressures such as increased extreme weather events driven by climate change. Increased, targeted financial and technical assistance at this critical juncture will help ensure the jurisdictions can accelerate adoption of cost-effective nutrient and sediment controls from such sources by 2025.”

The full text of the letter can be found here and copied below:  

Dear President Biden,

We respectfully ask that you prioritize funding for Chesapeake Bay restoration activities in your FY2022 President’s Budget Proposal. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. Its watershed, declared a national treasure in Executive Order 13508 (2009), comprises a 64,000 square-mile area and includes portions of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia and the entire District of Columbia. State and local governments in the seven jurisdictions, federal agencies, and academic, nongovernmental, and other partners have collaborated to restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem for decades. Now, as the 2025 target to have all practices and controls installed to achieve water quality standards approaches, funding programs that invest in climate solutions, sustainably manage water resources, restore habitat, and strengthen public access for outdoor recreation will advance not only the shared goals and outcomes for the restoration of the Bay, but also bolster the recovery of the regional economy.

Although the majority of funding for Bay restoration comes from jurisdictions within the watershed, federal agencies have made substantial commitments to this effort, in addition to having long-standing programs and responsibilities that affect the Bay. Such agencies include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), considered the lead agency. 

The Trump administration’s budget requests proposed drastic decreases for key programs across multiple agencies, including the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), which has guided Bay restoration since 1983. Fortunately, Congress rejected the proposal on a bipartisan basis, increasing appropriations for the CBP and reauthorizing it at $90.5 million for FY2022 in the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act (P.L.116-188), along with other new and existing programs to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers and streams.

The health of the Chesapeake Bay is improving over time as a result of these investments, reflected in improved dissolved oxygen levels and successful large-scale oyster restoration. However, challenges remain, including financing storm water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades and agricultural best management practices, as well as continuing to reduce pollution despite pressures such as increased extreme weather events driven by climate change. Increased, targeted financial and technical assistance for programs including those contained in the Clean Water Act and Farm Bill at this critical juncture will help ensure the jurisdictions can accelerate adoption of cost-effective nutrient and sediment controls from such sources by 2025, in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay TMDL (2010) and affirmed in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement (2014).

Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to working with you to restore the Bay for the benefit of the region’s millions of watershed residents and visitors. 

Sincerely,