Van Hollen Secures Funding for Poplar Island, Mid-Chesapeake Bay Islands, and Baltimore Harbor Projects out of Key Senate Committee

Funding Included in Legislation Passed by Senate Appropriations Committee

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced the passage of language to support and fund the Poplar Island, Mid-Chesapeake Bay Islands, and Baltimore Harbor projects within legislation approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“The projects to restore Poplar Island and the Mid-Bay Islands and maintain Baltimore Harbor are crucial to our economy and the Bay ecosystem. That’s why I’ve fought to ensure the Army Corps has the funding it needs to continue its work on these projects. I will continue working to secure the federal funding necessary to strengthen Maryland’s economy and protect our environment,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees.

Included within the Senate Appropriations-passed legislation, were provisions to:

• Fund Baltimore Harbor and Channels dredging at $20.4 million.
• Fund Poplar Island Construction at $17.3 million.
• Provide an additional $70 million for the Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan for project construction, that could be applied to Poplar Island. This is an increase of $20 million from FY 2019, and increase of $70 million from the President’s Budget, which provided zero funds.
• Provide an additional $18.5 million for the Army Corps Work plan for project investigations, that could be applied to the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Islands project. The President’s Budget provided zero funding applicable to this project.

The legislation will now move to the floor of the Senate for a vote before the full Chamber.

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