Washington, DC – Chesapeake Conservancy Executive Vice President of External Affairs Mark Conway issued this statement following the Senate passage of America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act.

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ACE Act highlights include:

• Reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay program at a level of $100 million annually through Fiscal Year 2030. Sec.109 Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998
• Reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network and the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program through Fiscal Year 2030. Sec.110. Chesapeake
• Reauthorizes the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense program through Fiscal Year 2030.

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“Chesapeake Conservancy greatly appreciates the bipartisan leadership of Senator Carper and Senator Capito in securing Senate passage of America’s Conservation Enhancement Act.

"In addition to benefitting fish and wildlife and expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation, the bill reauthorizes critically important programs: EPA's Chesapeake Bay program, the National Park Service's Chesapeake Gateways grant program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense program.

"Special thanks to Senator Cardin and Senator Van Hollen for their hard work to reauthorize these programs to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay. We stand ready to work with the Bay's bipartisan House delegation to pass the ACE Act, which will benefit America's wildlife and local communities in the Bay and nationwide.”

Feature Photo by Amanda Walker