Chesapeake WATERS Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3939
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Environmental Protection
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-10T22:06:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It aims to strengthen NOAA’s role in supporting the Chesapeake Bay Program, improving scientific monitoring, habitat restoration, living resource management, and education in the watershed.
Key Provisions
- Designates the Chesapeake Bay Office as NOAA’s primary representative in the watershed and updates leadership requirements for the Director.
- Expands the Office’s coordination and representation duties to include coastal hazards, climate change, education, and integrated ecosystem assessments.
- Establishes three main program areas:
- Integrated coastal observations, including support for the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System and data sharing for weather, ecology, and habitat management.
- A watershed education and training program that offers classroom activities, professional development for teachers, internships, and grants for environmental education projects.
- A coastal living resources and habitat program focused on oyster restoration, aquaculture, submerged aquatic vegetation, fish species such as striped bass and menhaden, and habitat mapping.
- Requires biennial reports to Congress that include action plans for research, monitoring, and coordination with Chesapeake Bay Program partners.
- Authorizes the Director to enter contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements and to use resources from other federal, state, local, or tribal entities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 307 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 by striking prior subsections (c), (d), and (e) and replacing them with expanded program authorities.
- Shifts coordination responsibility from the Environmental Protection Agency to the Chesapeake Executive Council.
- Adds new requirements for peer review of projects, consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, and specific activities related to climate, education, and habitat restoration that were not previously detailed in statute.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Strengthens NOAA’s operational role and requires greater interagency coordination with federal, state, and local partners involved in the Chesapeake Bay Program.
- Citizens and communities: Provides expanded educational opportunities for students and teachers and supports restoration of fisheries, habitats, and coastal resilience.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- NOAA and the Chesapeake Bay Office.
- The Chesapeake Executive Council and Chesapeake Bay Program partners.
- Federal, state, and local agencies in the watershed.
- Schools, teachers, students, and educational organizations.
- Scientists, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and resource users such as fishers and aquaculture operators.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill operates within existing federal environmental authorities and does not introduce new regulatory mandates on private parties.
- It emphasizes scientific standards and peer review without altering constitutional allocations of power.
- Reauthorization and program expansions reflect continued congressional support for Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Chesapeake Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science Act — issued 2026-02-26 — PDF (15 pages)