Van Hollen, Sarbanes Applaud Key Committee Approval of Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Representative John Sarbanes (both D-Md.) applauded the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's unanimous, bipartisan approval of an amended version of the lawmakers' Chesapeake National Recreation Act. The bipartisan, bicameral bill, introduced in July 2023 by Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes, would unite a series of voluntarily contributed sites and iconic Bay properties under the operation of the National Park Service (NPS) to create a Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The creation of the CNRA would spur more federal resources for environmental conservation, celebrate the Chesapeake's diverse cultural and economic history, foster sustainable and equitable access to the Bay, and support responsible economic growth in the region. With the Senate Energy and Natural Resource's Committee's vote to advance the CNRA Act, it is now eligible for consideration on the Senate floor.

"In Maryland, we know the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And creating the Chesapeake National Recreation Area will celebrate that fact while also bringing major benefits to the Bay. Not only will this open up more equitable public access to the Bay, the CNRA will also mobilize additional federal support for restoration, shine a light on the untold stories of its history, and support greater economic opportunity in the region. Today's bipartisan, unanimous vote was a big step forward in our efforts to pass this historic legislation," said Senator Van Hollen.

"The Chesapeake Bay is an extraordinary national treasure and a vital resource for our region. I am thrilled that the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act has advanced out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee - a crucial milestone in our efforts to safeguard the Bay for the well-being and enjoyment of future generations," said Congressman Sarbanes. "Designating a unified National Recreation Area will be an enormous step toward celebrating the regional stories that have shaped our nation's history, advancing the conservation goals of existing Bay programs, driving economic growth and ensuring equitable access to the outdoors. I look forward to continued collaboration with federal, state, local and private partners as we work to secure the Chesapeake Bay's future for all who cherish it."

The Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act was drafted in collaboration with NPS and the lawmakers' CNRA Working Group, and in alignment with the ten guiding principles laid out in June 2022. It also incorporates stakeholder feedback on the lawmakers' discussion draft, released in November 2022. The nearly six-month public comment period also included several listening sessions with groups such as local elected officials, neighborhood community organizations, and interested parties across the watershed.

Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes worked with the CNRA Working Group to review the feedback received from all sources to determine what changes to the draft legislative text were necessary to address the concerns and suggestions that were submitted before officially introducing the legislation last July, authorizing NPS to acquire by voluntary sale or donation Burtis House, Whitehall, and Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Annapolis, and the North Beach of Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes garnered support for the legislation from a wide array of over 100 stakeholders spanning local elected officials, environmental and historical preservation groups, economic development organizations, racial justice advocates, seafood and outdoor recreation businesses, and many more. The full list of supporters can be viewed here.

Following the introduction of the legislation, further modifications were made based on feedback from the National Park Service (NPS) and bipartisan staff of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee staff to align the CNRA with established precedent in order to ensure the amended legislation was favorably reported by the Committee members.

The amended CNRA Act approved today includes a modified mechanism to expand the CNRA through future voluntary land acquisitions. In the amended text, new sites are acquired through a unique, self-executing authority that provides NPS the ability to study sites for future acquisition once they have been identified by the Advisory Commission. This modification will require Congress to authorize new acquisitions; however, the self-executing study authority will expedite acquisition compared to the standard NPS expansion process by eliminating the need for Congress to separately authorize studies for potential new sites. This authority applies to sites in Maryland and Virginia that are near or adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay and tidal tributaries, though Congress can also direct NPS to study sites throughout the broader watershed via legislation. If NPS determines that the site is appropriate for inclusion in the CNRA, it can be added to the unit by an act of Congress. The legislation was also amended to simplify NPS' process for partnership agreements and to provide NPS further authority in the administration of the CNRA. A more detailed summary of technical changes to the legislation can be viewed here.

More information about the CNRA can be viewed here.