Infrastructure Bill Passes House With Key Investments for Chesapeake Bay
(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Late last night, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed the House of Representatives. The bill contains a provision of $238 million over five years for the Chesapeake Bay through EPA and an additional $11.715 billion over five years for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement:
"The restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams took another big step last night with the House's passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Included in this historic investment is a provision of $238 million over five years for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program. This is in addition to the annual appropriation Congress makes for the Bay Program, which was $87.5 million last year.
“With record setting flooding this fall throughout the Bay region and the growing threat of climate change, this timely funding will help address critical infrastructure needs and improve community resilience to major storm events. Investing in clean water infrastructure will also deliver good jobs and stimulate local economies from the many on-the-ground restoration projects this funding supports.
"In addition to the $238 million for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, the bill contains $11.715 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides key funding for local investments to reduce polluted runoff and upgrade sewage treatment facilities. Of this $11.715 billion, more than 20 percent will come to the six states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the District of Columbia.
"Despite the unknown of how much of this funding will support projects and programs in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, we are encouraged to see this additional investment in clean water. These additional funds will help close the gap in pollution reduction goals across the watershed, especially as we approach the 2025 deadline to have all pollution reduction practices in place as part of the Bay's restoration effort.
"We look forward to President Biden signing this legislation into law and working with members of Congress to steer these critical funds to help us leave a legacy of clean water to future generations."
The Choose Clean Water Coalition is an organization that harnesses the collective power of more than 260 local, state, regional, and national groups to advocate for clean rivers and streams in all communities in the Chesapeake region.
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Media Contact:
Drew Robinson
443-927-8049
RobinsonAQ@nwf.org