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S. 2591Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Act of 2019

Sponsored by Chris Van HollenSen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Introduced September 26, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 8:28 AM UTC

The Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Act of 2019 directs the Secretary of the Interior to create a non‑regulatory program that coordinates restoration and protection projects across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program will bring together federal, state, local and private partners, provide technical assistance, and award matching grants to support activities that improve water quality, habitat, flood control, public access, and ecosystem resilience for the benefit of fish, wildlife and nearby communities.

Key Provisions

  • Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must establish the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (CHWILD) program.
  • The program’s goals include coordinating restoration efforts, expanding funding sources, improving water quality and flood mitigation, enhancing public recreation, promoting green infrastructure, and increasing scientific capacity.
  • A grant component (CHWILD grant program) will offer competitive matching grants and technical assistance to eligible entities such as states, the District of Columbia, local governments, nonprofits, and colleges.
  • Cost‑sharing rules limit the Department of the Interior’s contribution to no more than 50% of a project’s cost, with other federal funds capped at 25% of total costs.
  • The Secretary must submit a report to Congress within 180 days of enactment and annually thereafter, detailing program implementation and funded projects.
  • Appropriations are authorized as needed, and any new funds must supplement, not replace, existing Chesapeake Bay watershed funding.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

September 26, 2019

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

September 26, 2019

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Environment and Public Works Committee

September 26, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued September 26, 2019

II

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 2591

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 26, 2019

Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Warner, Mr. Coons, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Casey) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense Act of 2019.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Chesapeake Bay agreements

The term Chesapeake Bay agreements means the formal, voluntary agreements—

(A)

executed to achieve the goal of restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed ecosystem and the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed ecosystem; and

(B)

signed by the Chesapeake Executive Council.

(2)

Chesapeake Bay program

The term Chesapeake Bay program means the program directed by the Chesapeake Executive Council in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay agreements.

(3)

Chesapeake Bay watershed

The term Chesapeake Bay watershed means the region that covers—

(A)

the Chesapeake Bay;

(B)

the portions of the States of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia that drain into the Chesapeake Bay; and

(C)

the District of Columbia.

(4)

Chesapeake Executive Council

The term Chesapeake Executive Council means the council comprised of—

(A)

the Governors of each of the States of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia;

(B)

the Mayor of the District of Columbia;

(C)

the Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and

(D)

the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(5)

Chesapeake WILD program

The term Chesapeake WILD program means the nonregulatory program established by the Secretary under section 3(a).

(6)

Grant program

The term grant program means the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense grant program established by the Secretary under section 4(a).

(7)

Restoration and protection activity

The term restoration and protection activity means an activity carried out for the conservation, stewardship, and enhancement of habitat for fish and wildlife—

(A)

to preserve and improve ecosystems and ecological processes on which the fish and wildlife depend; and

(B)

for use and enjoyment by the public.

(8)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

3.

Program establishment

(a)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a nonregulatory program, to be known as the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense program.

(b)

Purposes

The purposes of the Chesapeake WILD program include—

(1)

coordinating restoration and protection activities among Federal, State, local, and regional entities and conservation partners throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed;

(2)

engaging other agencies and organizations to build a broader range of partner support, capacity, and potential funding for projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;

(3)

carrying out coordinated restoration and protection activities, and providing for technical assistance, throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed—

(A)

to sustain and enhance restoration and protection activities;

(B)

to improve and maintain water quality to support fish and wildlife, habitats of fish and wildlife, and drinking water for people;

(C)

to sustain and enhance water management for volume and flood damage mitigation improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habitat;

(D)

to improve opportunities for public access and recreation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed consistent with the ecological needs of fish and wildlife habitat;

(E)

to facilitate strategic planning to maximize the resilience of natural ecosystems and habitats under changing watershed conditions;

(F)

to utilize green infrastructure or natural infrastructure best management practices to enhance fish and wildlife habitat;

(G)

to engage the public through outreach, education, and citizen involvement to increase capacity and support for coordinated restoration and protection activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;

(H)

to sustain and enhance vulnerable communities and fish and wildlife habitat;

(I)

to conserve and restore fish, wildlife, and plant corridors; and

(J)

to increase scientific capacity to support the planning, monitoring, and research activities necessary to carry out coordinated restoration and protection activities.

(c)

Duties

In carrying out the Chesapeake WILD program, the Secretary shall—

(1)

draw on existing plans for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, or portions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including the Chesapeake Bay agreements, and work in consultation with applicable management entities, including Chesapeake Bay program partners, such as the Federal Government, State and local governments, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and other regional organizations, as appropriate, to identify, prioritize, and implement restoration and protection activities within the Chesapeake Bay watershed;

(2)

adopt a Chesapeake Bay watershed-wide strategy that—

(A)

supports the implementation of a shared set of science-based restoration and protection activities developed in accordance with paragraph (1); and

(B)

targets cost-effective projects with measurable results; and

(3)

establish the grant program in accordance with section 4.

(d)

Coordination

In establishing the Chesapeake WILD program, the Secretary shall consult, as appropriate, with—

(1)

the heads of Federal agencies, including—

(A)

the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency;

(B)

the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(C)

the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service;

(D)

the Chief of Engineers;

(E)

the Director of the United States Geological Survey;

(F)

the Secretary of Transportation;

(G)

the Chief of the Forest Service; and

(H)

the head of any other applicable agency;

(2)

the Governors of each of the States of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia and the Mayor of the District of Columbia;

(3)

fish and wildlife joint venture partnerships; and

(4)

other public agencies and organizations with authority for the planning and implementation of conservation strategies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

4.

Grants and technical assistance

(a)

Chesapeake WILD grant program

To the extent that funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall establish and carry out, as part of the Chesapeake WILD program, a voluntary grant and technical assistance program, to be known as the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense grant program, to provide competitive matching grants of varying amounts and technical assistance to eligible entities described in subsection (b) to carry out activities described in section 3(b).

(b)

Eligible entities

The following entities are eligible to receive a grant and technical assistance under the grant program:

(1)

A State.

(2)

The District of Columbia.

(3)

A unit of local government.

(4)

A nonprofit organization.

(5)

An institution of higher education.

(6)

Any other entity that the Secretary determines to be appropriate in accordance with the criteria established under subsection (c).

(c)

Criteria

The Secretary, in consultation with officials and entities described in section 3(d), shall establish criteria for the grant program to help ensure that activities funded under this section—

(1)

accomplish 1 or more of the purposes described in section 3(b); and

(2)

advance the implementation of priority actions or needs identified in the Chesapeake Bay watershed-wide strategy adopted under section 3(c)(2).

(d)

Cost sharing

(1)

Department of the Interior share

The Department of the Interior share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the project, as determined by the Secretary.

(2)

Non-Department of the Interior share

(A)

In general

The non-Department of the Interior share of the cost of a project funded under the grant program may be provided in cash or in the form of an in-kind contribution of services or materials.

(B)

Other Federal funding

Non-Department of the Interior Federal funds may be used for not more than 25 percent of the total cost of a project funded under the grant program.

(e)

Administration

The Secretary may enter into an agreement to manage the grant program with an organization that offers grant management services.

5.

Reporting

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the implementation of this Act, including a description of each project that has received funding under this Act.

6.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

(b)

Supplement, not supplant

Funds made available under subsection (a) shall supplement, and not supplant, funding for other activities conducted by the Secretary in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.