Ruppersberger Helps Secure Unprecedented $92 Million for Chesapeake Bay in Environment Funding Bill

(Washington, DC) - The House Appropriations Committee today passed legislation that includes $92 million for the Chesapeake Bay - a $4 million increase over current funding levels - as requested by Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger. The $44.8 billion Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2023 now moves to the full U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.

The legislation funds programs that promote clean air and water, protect and preserve public land and endangered species and fight escalating climate change. The committee adopted $92 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program, earmarking $20.5 million for grants to remove nutrient and sediment, plus $25.5 million to control pollution runoff and $22.7 million for states to implement effective basins.

Experts estimate the Chesapeake Bay is worth more than $1 trillion in fishing, tourism, property values and shipping activities throughout its 6-state watershed, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

"This bill puts us on track to secure record funding to protect the Bay, its tributaries and the thousands of Marylanders who depend on it for their livelihoods," Congressman Ruppersberger said. "In Maryland, a healthy Bay means a healthy ecosystem and a healthy economy. I want to thank my fellow committee members for recognizing the ecological, environmental and economic significance of the Chesapeake Bay and including this funding."

In addition to the $92 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program, Congressman Ruppersberger requested and received:

A summary of the fiscal year 2023 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill is here.