Van Hollen Secures Bay Priorities in Senate Funding Bills

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of several Maryland priorities within the Senate Appropriations Committee's release of two major funding bills. These priorities were included in the Fiscal Year 2019 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill and the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Most notably, Senator Van Hollen worked to secure full funding of $73 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program, which was cut by President Trump's proposed budget.

"Investing in the Chesapeake Bay is vital for Maryland's environmental and economic success. That means fully funding Bay cleanup programs -- despite past attacks from the Trump Administration that would undermine those efforts. It means supporting farmers as part of the solution -- which we recently did in the Senate-introduced Farm Bill. And it means protecting our oyster reefs, which improve water quality," said Senator Van Hollen. "At every opportunity, I'm working with my colleagues on a bipartisan basis to protect and restore this natural treasure and to ensure it is able to support local jobs and recreation for years to come."

Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program will allow continued efforts to clean up the Bay, which are vital to Maryland's wildlife and economy. Bay restoration not only supports Maryland's environment but also the livelihoods of our watermen and Marylanders in the tourism and boating industries. The Chesapeake Bay Program partners with local communities across Maryland to achieve cleanup and environmental goals.

Senator Van Hollen also worked to include language to ensure the Chesapeake Bay Program Office (CBPO) is maintained and fully-staffed in Annapolis, Maryland -- providing continuity in the program and its partnerships when the existing CBPO lease expires in 2019. This office is crucial to efforts to maintain and restore the Bay's health, and it houses 30 full-time CBPO staff in addition to over 75 staff members from other federal agencies.

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