Sarah Elfreth

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Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6893 is, in fact, near and dear to my heart and to my district. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is one of our Nation's most priceless natural resources. Mr. Speaker, 18 million people live in the watershed, which is shared by six States and the District of Columbia. The Chesapeake Bay supports, as was said, fishing, tourism, real estate, and countless industries, generating billions of dollars in economic activity each year. It is, frankly, essential to the culture of those six States and the District. The bay is also a critical habitat for many keystone species. Its oyster reefs, seagrass meadows, and marshes protect nearby communities from coastal hazards and provide critical nurseries for fish and wildlife. You will even spot a few dolphins hanging out there. As a co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Task Force, I was proud to co- lead H.R. 6893 to reauthorize key, science-backed programs at NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office, which is headquartered near my office in Annapolis, Maryland. This bill would better position the office to collaborate with universities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders in carrying out science, monitoring, and observation activities. The bill also strengthens collaboration by supporting the coordinated management and conservation of Chesapeake Bay habitats, fish, and wildlife, ensuring that limited Federal resources are used as effectively as possible. Finally, the bill would, for the first time, authorize the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training program, otherwise known affectionately as B-WET, which provides grants for environmental education and watershed restoration experiences for local school kids. Reauthorizing this office in the Chesapeake Bay will help maintain a steady Federal presence within the region's collaborative scientific infrastructure, benefiting the six States and the District of Columbia. We must ensure that the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed remain abundant, healthy resources for generations to come. If you talk to folks back in my district, they will say that the bay transcends politics, and it is almost like a religion. I could not agree more. I applaud Representative Scott and the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay delegation not just for their dedication to this bill but for their dedication throughout every President and tumultuous politics to remain steady and steadfast in our support of this program. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6893, and I reserve the balance of my time.