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It’s Final: Van Hollen Announces Record Increase in
Federal Funding for Chesapeake Bay Clean-Up Effort
Farm Bill Provides for Infusion of Federal Funds for the Bay
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today announced that Congress voted to override the President’s veto of the 2008 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419), bringing a record increase in federal funding to the Chesapeake Bay clean-up efforts. The legislation passed on a vote of 316 to 108. Van Hollen led the successful bipartisan effort to dramatically boost federal funding for agricultural conservation programs that help protect the Bay.
The Farm Bill will more than double federal support of the Bay conservation efforts. Over the next five years, the bill will provide for an additional $440 million for the Bay programs. Included in that amount is $188 million dedicated specifically to the Chesapeake Bay. These funds will support an effort to prevent pollution from flowing into the Bay from major tributaries that feed the Bay. These Bay-specific funds will come to $438 million over 10 years, all new funds.
Last year, Van Hollen, who is the Co-Chairman of the Chesapeake Watershed Taskforce, introduced the Chesapeake's Healthy and Environmentally Sound Stewardship of Energy and Agriculture Act of 2007 (CHESSEA), which allocates funding for agricultural conservation in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. CHESSEA served as the blueprint for key provisions that were included in the Farm Bill.
The Farm Bill designates funding for a comprehensive Chesapeake Bay strategy and projects that will address the Bay on a tributary basis. The tributaries that will receive the initial focus are the Susquehanna, Shenandoah, Patuxent and Potomac Rivers.
"This is a great day for Chesapeake Bay clean-up efforts," said Congressman Van Hollen. “This landmark funding will provide critical funds to the farmers in the Chesapeake Bay region to support their conservation efforts and help clean up the Bay. I thank Chairman Peterson, Subcommittee Chairman Holden and the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed delegation for all their work in support of these programs. I give a special thank you to Will Baker of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for his tireless work and advocacy in generating a groundswell of support at the grassroots level. Ann Swanson of the Chesapeake Bay Commission should also be recognized for rallying the support of the governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia."
“I am a Californian, but I was born in Maryland and I know the importance of the Chesapeake Bay,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “I salute Congressman Van Hollen for pushing for this landmark funding for the Chesapeake Bay. This has been a priority of his since he came to Congress. From Monterey Bay across the country to the Chesapeake Bay, the Farm Bill represents a strong investment in conservation."
“Chris Van Hollen really showed tremendous leadership for the Chesapeake Bay during the development of this farm bill,” said Will Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “There is no doubt that nearly $200 million dollars in technical assistance and financial cost-share money to help farmers reduce excess nitrogen and sediment runoff wouldn’t be there except for Congressman Van Hollen’s hard work. This is a great day for the Chesapeake Bay, and everyone who cares about saving the Bay should be grateful for his leadership.”
“When it comes to the Farm Bill, Congressman Van Hollen was a leader among leaders,” said Ann Swanson, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. “He combined his comprehensive environmental and land use knowledge with his adroit political skills to deliver sorely-needed agricultural dollars to our region, nearly doubling federal aid. The results? A cleaner Chesapeake along with a more sustainable farm community.”
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