Advocates Will Build on Momentum to Pass Legislation in the Next Congress

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Washington, DC – As the 118^th Congress comes to an end without passing the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (S. 2620), Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn issued this statement marking the progress to establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA) to provide recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal waters in Maryland and Virginia. In a major step forward, on December 18, 2024, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (S. 2620).  Unfortunately, the U.S. House of Representatives did not pass the bill before leaving for the holidays.  

“We extend our gratitude to U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Representative John Sarbanes and the more than 20 cosponsors of Senate and House legislation for steadfast efforts to increase recreational access to the Chesapeake Bay.  We are grateful for the leadership of local elected officials, the CNRA working group, landowners and many other supporters.  

“After nearly four decades of advocacy and bipartisan collaboration, the Chesapeake Bay is one step closer to a new National Recreation Area. Advocates will carry this momentum into the new year to pass the CNRA bill next Congress.

“We’re closer than ever to elevating the Chesapeake Bay to iconic American landscapes like Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Grand Tetons. Establishing a unified Chesapeake National Recreation Area will expand public access and honor the region’s historical significance, from the lives and traditions of Indigenous peoples to the stories of free and enslaved Blacks and the enduring legacy of watermen and women who shaped this iconic region.

“As advocates look to the next Congress, this momentum has brought together a bipartisan coalition of elected officials, local communities, national and regional advocates with a shared goal to ensure the public will have access to the Chesapeake Bay for generations to come.

“While the CNRA bill did not pass, we greatly appreciate the bipartisan leadership of Rep. Rob Wittman and Jen Kiggans to pass America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act to reauthorize the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Gateways program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake WILD program and several other important programs.”

Feature Photo by Yazan Hasan

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