H.R. 6893 · Passed House · Environmental Protection

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act

Sponsor: Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA)

What it does

• Reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Chesapeake Bay Office and modifies its operational and consultation requirements.
• Provides statutory authority for the Chesapeake Bay Office's watershed education and training program serving elementary and secondary schools.
• Authorizes the office to establish a program for coordinated management, protection, characterization, and restoration of priority Chesapeake Bay habitats and living resources.

Official summary

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act This bill reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Chesapeake Bay Office and modifies requirements concerning the office and its activities, such as new consultation requirements. (The office partners with the Chesapeake Bay Program to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay.) The bill also provides statutory authority for the office's Chesapeake Bay watershed education and training program for elementary and secondary schools. Further, the bill authorizes the office to establish a program to support coordinated management, protection, characterization, and restoration of priority Chesapeake Bay habitats and living resources.

Latest action

Sep 15, 2026: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Committee: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation