Washington, D.C. – After pushing hard to increase funding for Chesapeake Bay programs, today Congressman John Sarbanes voted for the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010, H.R. 2996 when it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 247 –178.  The bill included more than $55 million for the Chesapeake Bay as well as conservation of Maryland’s cultural, historical and natural resources. The bill is expected to be signed into law by the President this week. 

“Marylanders have a strong tradition of environmental advocacy rooted in a passion for the Chesapeake Bay,” said Congressman John Sarbanes. “The Chesapeake Bay is our Nation’s largest estuary and, in many ways, the soul of our state and I am committed to restoring the Bay’s water quality and natural habitats.”

Key Investments below:
• Chesapeake Bay Office - $50 million to support its programs including small watershed grants, nutrient and sediment reduction grants, and strengthen the regulatory and accountability programs for controlling pollution from urban, suburban and agricultural lands.
• Chesapeake Bay Gateways - $1 million to provide competitive grants to programs that link the system of parks, refuges, museums, historic sites and water trails spanning the watershed and helps the public access, enjoy, and understand and appreciate the resources and values of the Chesapeake and its rivers and engage in their stewardship.
• Clean Water State Revolving Fund- $2.3 billion, $1.6 billion above 2009 levels, for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps ensure our nation’s waters reach the goal of pristine clean water.
• Drinking Water State Revolving Fund - $1.4 billion, $614 million above 2009 levels, for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, which helps states to protect public health by improving public drinking water.

This bill also includes funding for critical Department of Interior and Environmental Protection Agency programs.  It makes clean water a top priority and provides resources to safeguard our water supply.  Additionally, the bill includes $51 million for EPA’s Energy Star Program, which saves consumers $14 billion a year in energy costs by letting them know appliances’ energy efficiency and $10 million for new grants at EPA to encourage local communities to find ways to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.  The legislation also makes improving our national parks a key priority by providing $2.7 billion for the national parks.  This funding continues the 10-year initiative to upgrade the national parks before the Centennial of the National Park Service in 2016.  The bill also provides $503 million for National Wildlife Refuges for critically needed staff and funding to implement climate change strategies, and improve conservation efforts.