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Recapping the 2025 Conference
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Navigating the Federal Funding Freeze

The Coalition
The power of the Coalition lies in the work of our more than 300 member organizations.
(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) and Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA) introduced the Mitigation Action and Watermen Support (MAWS) Act. This legislation establishes a two-year pilot program within the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office to help facilitate new markets for blue catfish. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement.
(HARRISONBURG, VA)—Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) passed away after a battle with cancer. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement.
(HARRISONBURG, VA)—At a turbulent time in the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort, more than 280 individuals from local, state, and national nonprofits, elected officials, government agencies, and businesses are gathering for the 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference.
(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Today, the President released his discretionary budget request, which proposes severe reductions of programs critical to realizing clean water. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement.
(WASHINGTON, DC)—Today, nearly 100 members of the Choose Clean Water Coalition met with their members of Congress to urge support for the restoration of the rivers and streams that feed the Chesapeake Bay. With the federal funding freeze blocking critical clean water programs throughout the region, the Coalition is asking Congress to reaffirm their longstanding commitment to the Bay restoration effort.
(WASHINGTON, DC)—Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement.
(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—The Chesapeake Executive Council met today to discuss the current state of the effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. The meeting, attended by Maryland's Governor Moore, Pennsylvania's Governor Shapiro, and Virginia's Governor Glenn Youngkin, comes at a critical juncture in the Bay restoration effort. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement.
For this Member Highlight, the Coalition's former Virginia State Lead, Pat Calvert, interviews Bailey Pleasant, Watershed Coordinator at the Rivanna Conservation Alliance. Their edited conversation follows.
Hi! I am Genesis Ibrahim-Balogun (she/her), and I’m thrilled to intern with the Choose Clean Water Coalition this summer.
Yeah. It’s here. For his one-month birthday, we’re dropping some premium, highly requested Dewey merch! From tote bags to baby clothes, we’ve got it all. Get your Dewey drip now at our online shop!
My name is Leeanna Duong (she/her) and I’m thrilled to join Choose Clean Water Coalition as the Communications Intern!
As we start 2025, the Coalition continues to work closely on the future of the Chesapeake restoration effort. Right now, members are engaging with the Chesapeake Bay Program on revisions to the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
On January 3, members of the Choose Clean Water Coalition went to Capitol Hill to welcome the 16 new members of Congress in the Chesapeake watershed.
For this Member Highlight, the Coalition's West Virginia State Lead, Maria Russo, interviews Alyssa Murray, Manager of Land Conservation at the Potomac Conservancy and Coordinator for the Safe Water Conservation Collaborative. Their edited conversation follows.
For this Member Highlight, the Coalition's Maryland State Lead, Marisa Olszewski, interviews Janette Rosenbaum, President at Muddy Branch Alliance.
(ANNAPOLIS, MD)—Today, the U.S. House of Representative’s Appropriations Committee released their House FY26 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill. The legislation contains funding updates on programs critical to the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement.