Saving the Bay

Cleaning Up the Bay

Senator Mikulski is a leading defender of the Chesapeake Bay.

Each year as a member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Mikulski fights for federal funding for:

• Environmental Protection Agency
  
  • Chesapeake Bay Program
    • This program brings together federal, state, local government and community groups to create solutions
      for Bay clean-up to reduce pollution and restore water quality, habitats and fisheries.
  • Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds
    • These programs provide formula dollars to the Maryland Department of the Environment to administer
      low-interest loan programs to help finance water and wastewater infrastructure projects throughout the
      State of Maryland.
    • Completion of these water and wastewater infrastructure projects reduce pollution in the Chesapeake
      Bay Watershed, improve public health, and help local governments shoulder the cost of these projects without
      having to raise rates or cut other services.
  • State and Tribal Assistance Grants
    • These are Congressionally-designated projects that provide funding for water and wastewater treatment
      plant upgrades, various sewer improvements and for transmission and distribution pipe installation and
      replacement.
    • These grants also reduce harmful runoff to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, improve public health, and
      reduce the burden on rate payers.
      
      
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Oysters
  • Reseeding oyster beds
  • Mapping of oyster beds
  • Habitat restoration
• Chesapeake Bay Studies
• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Programs
  
  
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • Oysters
    • Native and Non-Native Oyster Study
    • Habitat restoration
    • Building new reefs
    • Planting disease-free oysters
      

Building A Coalition to get Things Done

Senator Mikulski is dedicated to creating coalitions to argue for an increase in the federal government’s investment in the Chesapeake Bay.

• As Chairwoman of Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski funds approximately 85% of the nation’s climate change-related science.
  • Research informs policymakers’ decisions on global warming.
• Teaming up with Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Senator Mikulski worked with the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to convene a hearing to highlight the impact of global warming on the Bay.
  • Showed true Chesapeake coalition: Senators John Warner (R-Va.) and Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), Governor Martin O’Malley (Md.) and Governor Tim Kaine (Va.), and leading Chesapeake Bay activists.
    

Fighting for Lives and Livelihood

Senator Mikulski is committed to saving jobs for Maryland's watermen by:

• Leading the fight for Department of Commerce to declare emergency status for the blue crab.
• Providing relief for watermen and the industry.

Farm Bill

Senator Mikulski fought for mandatory funding to provide a federal investment in the Chesapeake Bay:

• For the 1st time – federal government is committed to $438 million in mandatory funding exclusively for the Chesapeake Bay.
• Included in the Farm Bill, which passed with a congressional override of President Bush’s veto.