Scott, Wittman, Kiggans, Elfreth Reintroduce Bill Reauthorizing NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rob Wittman (VA-01), Jennifer Kiggans (VA-02), and Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) reintroduced the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act, previously known as the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education, and Ecosystem Enhancement Act. This legislation reauthorizes key programs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office (CBO). Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
NOAA’s CBO provides a variety of services that advance the restoration of the Bay and support local businesses, schools, and coastal resilience. CBO manages the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System which collects water quality, meteorological, and oceanographic data used by scientists, fisherman and those recreating on the Bay. CBO also oversees the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program, a competitive grant program for environmental education projects that connect students throughout the watershed with the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act authorizes the Chesapeake Bay B-WET program for the first time in the program’s history.
“NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office serves a critical role in restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Congressman Scott. “The Office conducts scientific research that assists us in making evidence-based decisions as we restore much-needed oyster reefs and wetlands. This bill includes many of the Office’s activities including the Chesapeake B-WET program, which has connected countless students with the Bay to further their environmental education. As a co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I am proud to reintroduce the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act with my colleagues to ensure that NOAA can continue being an effective partner in the effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay.
“The Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act is critical to protecting the Chesapeake Bay and ensuring it remains an important part of our environment and economy for generations to come,” said Congressman Wittman. “By allowing NOAA to coordinate with community stakeholders, monitor restoration activities, and authorizing the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training program, the WATERS Act will help protect the Chesapeake Bay’s health for generations to come. As a lifelong outdoorsman and co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay.”
“The Chesapeake WATERS Act is critical to protecting the Chesapeake Bay and the communities, jobs, and ecosystems that rely on it,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “By reauthorizing NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office, supporting science-based restoration, and expanding education and workforce training throughout the watershed, this bill strengthens long term stewardship of the Bay. I am proud to work with Representatives Wittman, Bobby Scott, and Sarah Elfreth on this bipartisan effort to preserve the Chesapeake Bay for generations to come.”
“The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, right here in Maryland's Third District, conducts critical work across the Watershed in advancing our shared goal of restoring the health and habitat of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Congresswoman Elfreth. “From water quality monitoring through the buoy system to convening an expert Task Force to tackle the issue of invasive blue catfish, I am proud to co-lead the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act to reauthorize this critical office and continue the innovative work it conducts.”
"For decades, NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office has been a steadfast partner in the multi-jurisdiction effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its living resources,” said Anna Killius, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. “Bay partners rely on NOAA science and support to help steward economically important fisheries, restore vital habitats, monitor and report conditions on the Bay, and educate students on the richness of the Bay and the challenges it faces. We appreciate the leadership of Senator Warner and Representatives Scott, Wittman, Elfreth, and Kiggans in championing bipartisan legislation to continue NOAA's critical role in the future of Bay conservation."
“The bipartisan Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act throws a welcome legislative lifeline to NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office that would sustain its vital role restoring the Bay and its waterways, fisheries, and wildlife habitat,” said Keisha Sedlacek, Senior Policy Director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “NOAA’s oyster restoration expertise, climate change research, and outdoor education programs are essential to safeguarding this priceless resource and economic engine. NOAA science will be critical as we enter the next phase of Bay restoration under the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Thanks to Sen. Mark Warner and Reps. Bobby Scott, Sarah Elfreth, Rob Wittman, and Jen Kiggans, Congress now has the legislation to make sure this essential partner remains at the table.”
“We are thrilled to see the introduction of the Chesapeake Bay WATERS Act,” said Kristin Reilly, Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition. “NOAA is a crucial federal partner in the fight to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. This bipartisan legislation provides critical funding to support projects such as habitat work in the Chesapeake, including on fisheries management and oyster research and restoration, monitoring of restoration activities, and environmental education grants. We want to thank Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representatives Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), all long-time champions for the Bay, for spearheading this legislation and we look forward to supporting its passage into law.”
Full text of the bill can be found by CLICKING HERE.
###