On Thursday, May 13, the Governors of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the Mayor of D.C, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission sent Congressional leaders a letter calling for bold investments for Chesapeake Bay restoration. The Billion for the Bay Initiative will create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and protect the health of America’s largest estuary. See the full Billion for the Bay letter here.

Virginia Conservation Network Partners along with the broader conservation community released the following statements. Check back for more statements.

Last updated: May 13th, 2021, 12 PM.

James River Association

Today, Governor Northam led members of the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council in asking leaders in Congress to support the Billion for the Bay Initiative. The proposed initiative  calls for federal funding crucial to stimulating state and local economies and to sustaining efforts to restore the James River and Chesapeake Bay. The Billion for the Bay initiative seeks to grow local jobs while underpinning a decades-long effort to reduce nutrient and sediment pollution from agricultural lands, from urban and suburban stormwater runoff, and from wastewater treatment facilities. Building green infrastructure, restoring natural landscapes and upgrading water infrastructure is central to the initiative’s aim of helping Bay jurisdictions adapt to climate change and meet the 2025 deadline to implement the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan.

Governor Northam chairs the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council, which is represented by Governors from each of the six Chesapeake Bay States, the Mayor of the District of Columbia and the Chair of Chesapeake Bay Commission.

“We applaud the Governor and the Executive Council for elevating the needs of the James River and the Chesapeake Bay through the Billion for the Bay Initiative. Across the mid-Atlantic region, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have taken a toll on our farmers, businesses and families, as well as state and local budgets. This infusion of federal support is truly needed to help communities recover faster and meet their 2025 goals under the Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Plan. A fully healthy James River will support thriving communities for generations to come. We urge Congress to heed this bold, bipartisan commitment to a thriving clean water economy.” – Bill Street, Chief Executive Officer

Virginia Conservation Network

“Chesapeake Bay is the foundation of our region’s natural landscape, and serves not only as our largest natural asset but a major driver of Virginia’s economy.

In order to meet our 2025 Bay cleanup goals, we need local, state and federal resources to tackle major pollution sources. We applaud Governor Northam, along with our neighboring governors, for their advocacy to our federal leaders for much needed funding to meet our Chesapeake Bay goals.” – Mary Rafferty, Executive Director

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

“The future of the Chesapeake Bay is now in jeopardy. Scientific recommendations to save it must be accelerated; if not, the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint will fail. The watershed states and their federal partners must increase investments to meet the 2025 goal. This is especially critical for Pennsylvania and New York, which supply 50% of the Bay’s fresh water, and the Bay’s pollution.

To finish the job, EPA leadership must embrace the Clean Water Act’s mandates and hold the states accountable. Pennsylvania’s current plan only achieves 75 percent of its nitrogen pollution reduction goal and has a self-identified shortfall of more than $300 million annually. The vast majority of the pollution reduction needed must come from Pennsylvania. The majority of this new funding must be directed toward the Commonwealth.

The Clean Water Blueprint is our last, best hope for clean water across the region. For our children and grandchildren, we must demand success.” – William C. Baker, President

Chesapeake Conservancy

“I applaud the Chesapeake Executive Council for their outstanding advocacy in calling for a ‘Billion for the Bay Initiative’ to secure urgently-needed funding that will dramatically reduce pollution, create jobs, protect nature, and help prepare Bay communities for the challenges of climate change.

The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and it is our region’s greatest natural asset and a fundamental part of our region’s economy. Communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries rely on the Bay for fishing, for tourism, and for outdoor recreation. A healthy and restored Chesapeake Bay is paramount for the future economic well-being of these communities and for the health of the 18 million people who live in the watershed.

Chesapeake Conservancy and conservation partners throughout the Bay watershed have been working to accelerate restoration progress on the ground through initiatives like the recently announced 30 x 2030 rapid delisting of impaired streams initiative in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The ‘Billion for the Bay’ initiative would not only create jobs and greatly enhance watershed-wide progress toward the 2025 Bay clean-up and conservation goals, it would result in many long-term environmental and economic benefits for countless communities.

Thank you to Executive Council Chair Governor Northam, Governor Hogan, Governor Wolf, Governor Carney, Governor Cuomo, Governor Justice, Mayor Bowser, and Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission Delegate David Bulova for this exciting proposal and for their leadership on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay.” –Joel Dunn, CEO

Choose Clean Water Coalition

“The Billion for the Bay Initiative calls for increased federal funding to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. This type of Initiative is crucial to achieving our clean water goals, and we applaud the Chesapeake Executive Council for recognizing this vital need.

“We are heartened by the broad bipartisan and high level support for Bay watershed restoration funding. Despite the partisan discord that plagues our current political climate, elected leaders throughout the Bay watershed understand the importance of clean water for public health, local economies, and quality of life. As we work to leave a legacy of clean water to future generations, investments such as those proposed in the Billion for the Bay Initiative are essential.” – Mariah Davis, Acting Director