Van Hollen Statement on Chesapeake Bay Executive Order

Statement

Van Hollen Statement on Chesapeake Bay Executive Order

Today, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement on President Obama's Chesapeake Bay Executive Order:

"Today, the President signed an Executive Order to establish a Federal leadership Committee to devise a new strategy to restore the Bay. This Committee will be chaired by the Environmental Protection Agency and it will include the Department of Defense, the Department of Agriculture, the Commerce Department and the Interior Department.

"The Chesapeake Bay agriculture conservation program that we fought so hard to get into the Farm Bill will be a vital part of this effort to greatly reduce agricultural runoff that currently accounts for nearly 50 percent of the Bay's pollution. The wastewater management and urban runoff that accounts for almost all of the remaining pollution can be addressed with the impressive funding commitment that President Obama has made to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund in the Recovery Bill and in his FY 2010 budget.

"I pledge my support to the President, the Governors and this new Interagency working group to chart a course to stop pollution from choking the life out of the Bay."

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