The clock is ticking and if Congress doesn’t act quickly, it will lose the opportunity to deliver conservation, environmental, and recreational benefits to the Chesapeake Bay region and the rest of the country through the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act.
The ACE Act has been stalled until recently, despite enjoying broad, bipartisan support and the enthusiastic backing of the outdoor recreation industry, conservation groups, and fish and wildlife managers nationwide. In a hopeful sign, the Senate on Sept. 16 overcame a few last-minute objections to pass it by unanimous consent.
Now it’s up to the House to act — and soon. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation urges House leaders to put this important bill to a final vote before lawmakers leave town to hit the campaign trail. The Bay region’s 18 million residents, and all Americans, should not have to wait any longer to tap the conservation and economic investments the ACE Act would make possible.
In crafting the ACE Act, lawmakers in both chambers worked across party lines and bridged regional differences to protect fish and wildlife habitat and support outdoor activities like recreational hunting, and sportfishing. The bill also tackles the threat of invasive species and emerging wildlife diseases, conserves wetlands across North America, and compensates ranchers for livestock killed by federally protected species. And who can argue with authorizing grants for local water quality improvement projects?
The ACE Act also contains several provisions essential to restoring the Chesapeake Bay, the nation’s largest estuary and a vital source of jobs and economic activity. Although we’ve made great strides since the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint for restoring the Bay was signed in 2010, that progress has slowed in recent years. The pandemic has only made things worse.
Adding to the challenge, the Chesapeake watershed’s six states and the District of Columbia have less than five years left to meet their commitments to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that is damaging the Bay’s living resources.
The Blueprint is our last, best chance to restore the health of this national treasure and essential economic engine. Passing the ACE Act would demonstrate Congress’s continued bipartisan commitment to a restored Bay and inject urgently needed funds into the cleanup at this pivotal time.
Most important for the Bay’s future, the ACE Act would reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program and incrementally increase funding to $92 million annually by 2025. The Program, created in 1983 under President Ronald Reagan, is the glue that holds the multi-jurisdictional restoration partnership together. Administered by EPA, it coordinates scientific research, oversees each jurisdiction’s cleanup activities, and distributes grants for local restoration projects.
The House has already voted three times to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program: first when it adopted the chamber’s version of the ACE Act last November, then when it passed Rep. Elaine LuriaElaine Goodman LuriaVirginians wait up to four hours to cast early voting ballots US Chamber of Commerce set to endorse 23 House freshman Democrats House panel votes against curtailing Insurrection Act powers after heated debate MORE’s (D-Va.) stand-alone reauthorization bill in February, and finally in July as part of the House infrastructure package. The Senate first passed its version of the ACE Act, which includes Sen. Ben CardinBenjamin (Ben) Louis CardinPPP application window closes after coronavirus talks deadlock Congress eyes tighter restrictions on next round of small business help Senate passes extension of application deadline for PPP small-business loans MORE’s (D-Md.) and Sen. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoSecond GOP senator to quarantine after exposure to coronavirus GOP senator to quarantine after coronavirus exposure Hillicon Valley: Zuckerberg acknowledges failure to…
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