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Federal Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program

Standing up for the Blueprint

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Just as the Bay and its rivers are on the rebound, the president’s FY19 budget threatens to cut 90% of funding for EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program—the largest program to restore a body of water in U.S. history.

3/23/2018 UPDATE: Congress has passed a spending bill fully funding EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program through the end of Fiscal Year 2018. This is a critical piece of Chesapeake restoration efforts that coordinates scientific research on the health of the Bay and provides grants to state and local governments to help reduce pollution. It's successful, bipartisan, non-controversial—and it's a critical part of the Bay restoration efforts that are helping crab and oyster populations rebound, shrinking the Bay's dead zone, and allowing Bay grasses to thrive. Please take a moment now to thank your Congressional representatives for standing up for the Bay!

The Chesapeake Bay Program coordinates scientific research on the health of the Bay, and provides grants to state and local governments to help reduce pollution. It's successful, bipartisan, non-controversial—and it's a critical part of the Bay restoration efforts that are helping crab and oyster populations rebound, shrinking the Bay's dead zone, and allowing Bay grasses to thrive. 

The Bay Program supports the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, the result of a historic partnership between the watershed states, the District of Columbia and the federal government. As shown in the 2017 Chesapeake Bay Restoration Spending Crosscut, the federal government’s share of restoration costs has decreased relative to state contributions. Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program is essential to fulfilling the federal government’s commitment to the Agreement.

Cuts to this vital work could undermine the trust, collaboration and partnership between the states and the federal government established in the historic Chesapeake Bay Agreement, and threaten clean water for the more than 18 million people who call the Chesapeake Bay watershed home. That's why it's so important that we tell Congress loud and clear that it must continue leadership on the Chesapeake Bay.

Level funding in FY19 for key federal programs is needed to maintain the trust and collaboration of state partners and ensure the continued success of this unique partnership.

With that in mind, here are a few resources to help you understand the issues at hand and to help you speak out on behalf of clean water everywhere.

All of us who love the Bay and its rivers and streams, must continue to do our part in restoring it. Our economy, our environment, and our health depend on it.

Issues

CBF's Priority: Continue Congressional Leadership on the Chesapeake Bay

While the federal-state partnership that is the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement is seeing incredible progress, the President's FY19 budget proposal significantly reduces the federal commitment through cuts to key programs. Take a look at some of the critical efforts that need to be protected throughout Congress' appropriations process.

Photo credit: © Tim McCabe/NRCS

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