Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act

UPDATED:

See the latest version of the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act (S.1816) as it passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on June 30, 2010.  Strike-out of the original language goes through page 64, the amended bill starts on page 65. 

Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act as reported from Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

The Choose Clean Water Coalition is currently reviewing this text for consistency with the goals outlined below.

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S.1816/H.R. 3852, the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act (known as the Chesapeake Clean Water Act), directly addresses the most harmful sources of pollution entering our waterways.  The Choose Clean Water Coalition supports this effort led by House and Senate sponsors Senator Ben Cardin and Congressman Elijah Cummings to protect and clean streams and rivers throughout the region.  
 
The Coalition particularly supports the framework of the Chesapeake Clean Water Act, which uses the most advanced science to set a hard “cap” to limit pollutants coming off of the 64,000 square mile watershed.  There is strong support for the core concept of the bill which gives each state responsibility to determine how to meet the scientific based pollution limits.  In the bill the states develop strong implementation plans which will be backed-up by federal oversight and enforcement, expanded federal monitoring, implementation grants to the states and a citizen suit provision.  Further, for the first time, there will be real accountability to the taxpaying public on the use of federal funds for this effort.  
The bill provides for a true integrated partnership of federal, state and local governments that must work together to achieve everyone’s goal of clean water.   The legislation rewards innovation through market-based approaches, which lowers the cost of cleaning up local waters throughout the region.  

The Chesapeake Clean Water Act could provide the last real opportunity to restore the Bay in a generation.   This legislation makes clear that no one has a “right” to pollute the water in the Chesapeake Bay region.  Help support passage today!

For more information, check out the Coalition's fact sheet on the legislation.
 
Sign-Up today to support the legislation!
 
Is your Member of Congress of Congress a co-sponsor of the legislation? See below.  The Coalition thanks Members of Congress who already support the legislation!
 

Senate

Sen Cardin, Ben [MD] Sponsor     
Sen Carper, Thomas R. [DE]
Sen Kaufman, Edward E. [DE]
Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD]
 
House

Rep Cummings, Elijah [MD-7] Sponsor
Rep Edwards, Donna F. [MD-4]
Rep Hoyer, Steny H. [MD-5]
Rep Sarbanes, John P. [MD-3]
Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8]
Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [MD-2]
Rep Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [VA-3]
Rep Connolly, Gerald E. "Gerry" [VA-11]
Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8]
Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC]
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE]
Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22]
Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14]
Rep Tonko, Paul D. [NY-21]
Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7]
Rep Oberstar, James L. [MN-8] (Full Committee Chair)
Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] (Subcommittee Chair)