Chesapeake Bay Groups Kickoff Advocacy Week with Senator Chris Van Hollen
(WASHINGTON, DC)—This week, more than 70 members of the Choose Clean Water Coalition will meet with their members of Congress to urge support for the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. The Coalition, made up of more than 270 nonprofit organizations throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, is asking Congress to maintain, and in some instances, increase funding for programs that are critical to attaining clean water.
Critical to meeting the Bay's clean water goals is $91 million for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program. The centerpiece and catalyst for Bay restoration efforts, more than two-thirds of the Bay Program's funds are passed through to the states and local communities for on-the-ground restoration work. Other funding asks include:
$15 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Chesapeake WILD Program. This program would assist local partners with on-the-ground habitat restoration and protection.
$8.1 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. This program is critical to any national initiative provides the lifeblood for 1,779 local governments throughout the Chesapeake region to secure their water infrastructure.
Fully funding and implementing the conservation programs under the 2018 Farm Bill to ensure that well run, responsible farms in the Chesapeake region remain economically viable. These programs are essential for regulated agricultural operations to meet federal requirements under the Clean Water Act and help farmers meet state regulations that address both farm health and water quality.
"Our Coalition of clean water advocates are encouraging their members of Congress to maintain their support for all of the rivers and streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, stressing the need for new and increased investments for clean water," said Kristin Reilly, Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition. "If we want to realize our goals for clean water and healthy communities, it's critical that we increase funding to accelerate essential on-the-ground restoration work."
To kickoff the Coalition's annual "Lobby Week," Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) addressed the Coalition. Senator Van Hollen has attended every Coalition gathering, dating back to his service in the House of Representatives. Said Senator Van Hollen, "Thanks to this Coalition, we've made enormous progress, but the progress today is not enough to achieve our goals of a healthier Bay. There's a lot of work still to do…We all do this work because the Bay is an incredible natural treasure…and lifeblood for very important parts of Maryland's economy."
To view the entire event, featuring Senator Van Hollen's entire remarks with an introduction from Hilary Falk, President and CEO of Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the first Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, followed by Q&A from Coalition members, visit bit.ly/CCWC22lobbydaykickoff.
The Choose Clean Water Coalition, an organization that harnesses the collective power of more than 270 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
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RobinsonAQ@nwf.org