Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6893
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-26: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-30T08:06:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act reauthorizes and strengthens the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office. Its main goal is to improve coordination, research, education, and restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed—a large estuary shared by multiple states—to protect and restore its ecosystems, habitats, and living resources like fish and oysters, while addressing challenges such as pollution, climate change, and coastal hazards.
Key Provisions
- Office Structure and Leadership: The Office is led by a Director with expertise in Chesapeake Bay research or resource management. The Director oversees administration, operations, and implementation of the Office's duties.
- Coordination and Representation: The Office serves as NOAA's primary representative in the watershed, coordinating with the Chesapeake Executive Council (a body of federal, state, and local leaders) and other partners on issues like habitat protection, pollution reduction, and resource stewardship.
- Expanded Activities:
- Integrated Coastal Observations: Supports a monitoring system for water quality, habitats, and living resources, including new technologies, data analysis, and the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System (which provides real-time environmental data for trails, education, and forecasts).
- Education and Training Program: Expands programs for students, teachers, and internships to build understanding of the Bay's ecosystem. Includes grants for classroom education, field experiences, teacher training, and tools to address environmental issues, aligned with the Chesapeake Bay Agreement (a long-term restoration plan).
- Coastal and Living Resources Management: Focuses on protecting and restoring key species (e.g., oysters, blue crabs, striped bass) and habitats (e.g., submerged aquatic vegetation). Supports research, aquaculture, habitat mapping, and resilience-building through grants and technical assistance.
- Oversight and Reporting: Ensures projects undergo peer review for scientific quality. Requires biennial reports to Congress and the Secretary of Commerce, including action plans for research, monitoring, and integration with Bay Program partners.
- Agreements and Resources: Allows the Office to enter contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements; use federal, state, or local resources (with consent); and delegate authority and staff to the Director.
- Definitions: Clarifies terms like "Administrator" (NOAA head), "Chesapeake Bay Program" (a collaborative restoration effort), and "Chesapeake Executive Council."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This Act amends Section 307 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 1511d), which originally established the Office:
- Streamlines Structure: Removes outdated language on office establishment and simplifies the Director's role, eliminating a prior deputy position.
- Broadens Scope: Adds new priorities like coastal hazards, climate change, education, and integrated ecosystem assessments (holistic evaluations of ecosystem health). Expands coordination to include representation in the Chesapeake Bay Program and replaces references to the Environmental Protection Agency with the Chesapeake Executive Council for better alignment with current governance.
- Introduces New Programs: Adds dedicated sections for integrated observations (including buoys and trails), a formal education/training grant program, and a habitat management program—none of which were explicitly detailed before.
- Enhances Accountability: Mandates peer review for funded projects, biennial reports with action plans, and consultation with the Executive Council to ensure consistency with the Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
- Removes Obsolete Elements: Strikes old subsections on funding and specific partnerships, focusing instead on flexible support for program activities.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Strengthens NOAA's role in federal-state collaborations, potentially increasing coordination with agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and state environmental departments. May require additional staffing and resources for the Office, leading to more efficient use of federal funds for Bay restoration.
- Citizens: Improves public access to environmental data, education, and career opportunities in the watershed (affecting about 18 million people in states like Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and others). Enhances ecosystem health, which could benefit fishing, tourism, and water quality for communities.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, as the focus is domestic, but improved Bay health could indirectly support U.S. environmental leadership in shared North American watersheds.
- Broader Environmental Effects: Could accelerate restoration of polluted waters and habitats, reducing risks from climate change and hazards, while fostering innovation in monitoring and aquaculture.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: NOAA (primary implementer), Chesapeake Executive Council, and partners in the Chesapeake Bay Program.
- State and Local Governments: Officials in watershed states (e.g., Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.) involved in restoration and education.
- Non-Governmental and Academic Groups: Environmental organizations, universities, and nonprofits focused on Bay conservation, research, and education.
- Citizens and Communities: Students, teachers, fishers, aquaculture operators, and residents benefiting from improved habitats, jobs, and public data.
- Industries: Fishing, aquaculture, and tourism sectors reliant on healthy Bay resources.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing frameworks like the Chesapeake Bay Agreement (under the Clean Water Act) and the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act, ensuring activities align without creating new regulatory burdens. Emphasizes voluntary grants and cooperation, avoiding mandates that could face legal challenges.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; supports federal environmental authority under the Commerce Clause (regulating interstate waters) and promotes intergovernmental partnerships without infringing on state sovereignty.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan commitment to regional environmental restoration (introduced by members from affected states), potentially easing future funding debates. Highlights education and science as non-partisan priorities, but implementation success depends on congressional appropriations, which are not specified here.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Cosponsors (7)
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-26: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2026-03-19: Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries.
- 2025-12-18: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
- 2025-12-18: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act — issued 2025-12-18 — PDF (14 pages)