House Passes Bill To Fund Chesapeake Bay Conservation Efforts

The House passed a bill to permanently fund conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The House bill allocates more money for local groups building parks, museums and water trails along the Chesapeake Bay. It passed on the same day the federal government warned states to pick up the slack in cleaning up the Bay.

Maryland Democrat John Sarbanes inserted language into the bill preventing funding from expiring every five years or so, which is normally the case. "The permanent authorization sends a very strong signal to all those engaged citizens who want to make sure the Chesapeake Bay is preserved and protected that you've got a permanent partner on the part of the federal government," said Sarbanes.

The entire Virginia and Maryland delegations voted for the House bill. The Senate passed a companion bill earlier this year.

From Capitol News Connection, Peter Granitz reports...