Washington, DC – Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn issued this statement in response to a call by the Chesapeake Executive Council for Congress to invest $1 billion dollars in Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts as a part of national economic stimulus and infrastructure spending.

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“I applaud the Chesapeake Executive Council for their outstanding advocacy in calling for a ‘Billion for the Bay Initiative’ to secure urgently-needed funding that will dramatically reduce pollution, create jobs, protect nature and help prepare Bay communities for the challenges of climate change.

“The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and it is our region’s greatest natural asset and a fundamental part of our region’s economy. Communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries rely on the Bay for fishing, for tourism and for outdoor recreation. A healthy and restored Chesapeake Bay is paramount for the future economic well-being of these communities and for the health of the 18 million people who live in the watershed.

“Chesapeake Conservancy and conservation partners throughout the Bay watershed have been working to accelerate restoration progress on the ground through initiatives like the recently announced 30 x 2030 rapid delisting of impaired streams initiative in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The ‘Billion for the Bay’ initiative would not only create jobs and greatly enhance watershed-wide progress toward the 2025 Bay clean-up and conservation goals, it would result in many long-term environmental and economic benefits for countless communities.

“Thank you to Executive Council Chair Governor Northam, Governor Hogan, Governor Wolf, Governor Carney, Governor Cuomo, Governor Justice, Mayor Bowser and Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission Delegate David Bulova for this exciting proposal and for their leadership on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay.”

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Feature Photo by Kelsey Everett