Press Releases

The House of Representatives passed legislation today authored by Virginia Representative Rob Wittman (VA-1) to improve management of resources for restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Wittman’s legislation, the Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act, passed the House as part H.R. 2954, the Public Access and Lands Improvement Act.

“This legislation will aid in the clean-up of one of our prized historic resources, the Chesapeake Bay, and I am proud to be an advocate for this integral resource in our great Commonwealth,” Wittman said. “This body of water provides habitat for plants and animals, resources that drive local economies, recreation, and a way of life for many that live on and around its shores. Managing the resources dedicated to the Bay will help in the revitalization that is taking place, to restore the Bay and to preserve it for generations. I urge the Senate to quickly pass this legislation so the President may sign this common sense measure in order to more wisely utilize taxpayer resources in restoring one of our great natural treasures.”

In addition to generating billions of dollars in economic activity, the Bay provides tens of thousands of jobs in the commercial seafood and recreational fishing industries. Since coming to Congress, the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay has been one of Wittman’s top priorities.

Wittman's legislation would fully implement two cutting edge management techniques, crosscut budgeting and adaptive management, to enhance coordination, flexibility and efficiency of restoration efforts. These techniques have been used successfully in the Everglades and the Great Lakes; however, they have not been fully implemented in Bay restoration efforts, where results have lagged far behind the billions of dollars spent. Additionally, the legislation would create a Chesapeake Bay Program Independent Evaluator to review and report to Congress on restoration activates in the watershed. The Chesapeake Bay partnership includes 10 federal agencies, six states and the District of Columbia, over one thousand localities and multiple non-governmental organizations. To date, the complexity of the participants has resulted in a muddled effort. In drafting this legislation, Congressman Wittman drew heavily on his 23 years of experience as a shellfish specialist monitoring water quality and environmental health issues in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee where he is the Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.