Washington, DC – The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations passed its Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Interior and Environment funding bill. The House’s FY21 funding bill provides a $5.5 million dollar increase for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, fully funds the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails program, and supports many other programs important to the conservation and health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

‍

Chesapeake Conservancy President & CEO Joel Dunn applauded the House bill.

‍

“Thank you to the House Appropriations Committee and to our Chesapeake Bay watershed members for supporting the Chesapeake Bay in this important legislation. The conservation and health of the Chesapeake Bay is absolutely essential for the health of our local communities and for the health of our region’s economy. The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program is an invaluable partner in the effort to conserve and restore the Chesapeake Bay, and this bill would greatly enhance that partnership.

“Thank you to the Committee for fully funding the Chesapeake Bay Gateways program and for extending the program’s authorization. The Gateways program provides critical support to local communities through the National Park Service for outdoor recreation access and educational programming, and is a core contributor to the Chesapeake’s booming outdoor recreation economy.”

‍

Feature Photo by Yazan Hasan