The Administration’s Federal Budget for EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program for FY 2020 would slash the program’s federal funding by 90 percent - a dramatic cut that the President had also recommended last year. In 2017, he suggested eliminating federal contributions all together. In both cases, Congress rejected the President’s proposals.
The EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program is a partnership between six states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) and the District that has been in existence since 1983.
More than two-thirds of the $73 million the program receives from the EPA goes toward supporting the efforts of state and local governments and other partners. The money is used for restoring and conserving healthy habitats, supporting sustainable fisheries and reining in pollution and waste runoff, according to Chesapeake Promise, an effort to publicly track the program’s progress and finances.
The remaining one-third goes toward in-house work by the Chesapeake Bay Program, including the collection of data, scientific research, monitoring, modeling and reporting on the state of the ecosystem.
In addition to EPA funding, the District and the participating states each contribute tens of millions of dollars annually. Other federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense and Department of the Interior, also provide funding or program-specific support.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have signaled support for the program and promised to fight to maintain funding at or near current levels.
“As I have in the past, I will fight to restore funding so generations to come can enjoy this treasure and our thriving tourist, seafood and boating industry will continue to flourish,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) tweeted.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) told the Baltimore Sun he supports current funding levels for the Chesapeake Bay Program and would work with the House Appropriations Committee to shift money back into it.
Rep. Elaine Luria (D-VA) went a step further and called on Congress to pass the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act — a measure introduced in the House and Senate this year that would provide $90 million in funding for FY20 and increase federal support by $500,000 a year for the next five years.
Chesapeake Bay Program funding has continued to be one of Sen. Ben Cardin’s key issues, as well, throughout his time in Congress. (Washington Post, 3/16/19)
