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WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) applauded President Trump for signing the landmark America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, arguably the most important piece of environmental legislation for the Chesapeake Bay, national wetlands, and fish habitats in the past twenty years, into law.

“The ACE Act is a once-in-a-generation advancement to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and protect and conserve our natural environment across America,” Congressman Wittman said. “As a passionate waterfowl hunter, I am grateful for the hard work put into passing this legislation to conserve critical migratory bird habitat across America. The Bay is a national treasure, and the ACE Act provides additional resources and extends critical conservation programs that preserve wetlands, reduce pollution, and increase recreational opportunities in Virginia.”

The ACE Act would make record investments in the Chesapeake Bay and establish several programs to boost the health of the watershed.

Earlier this month, Congressman Wittman had the incredible honor to manage suspension debate for the landmark America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act on the House Floor. Click here to watch Congressman Wittman’s floor remarks

Most notably, the ACE Act contains two pieces of legislation sponsored by Congressman Wittman: 

• National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships Act, which establishes the National Fish Habitat Board to (1) encourage partnerships among public agencies and other interested parties to promote fish conservation, (2) establish national goals and priorities for fish habitat conservation, (3) recommend to Congress entities for designation as a Fish Habitat Partnership, and (4) review and make recommendations regarding fish habitat conservation projects.
• America's Conservation Enhancement Act, which Congressman Wittman jointly introduced with Rep. Mike Thompson (D, CA-05), which reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which protects waterfowl, fish, wildlife resources, and wetland habitat while supporting local economies and American traditions such as hunting, fishing, bird watching, family farming, and cattle ranching. 

The ACE Act also contains several bipartisan bills introduced and advanced by the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, of which Congressman Wittman is a Co-Chair, and on all of which Congressman Wittman was an original cosponsor, including:

• The Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act, which reauthorizes the Chesapeake Bay Program through FY2025 at $92 million annually – a meaningful boost from the previous $73 million annual federal investment in the program.
• The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Reauthorization Act; and
• The Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (Chesapeake WILD) Act

This year, Congressman Wittman has continued his work in Congress to conserve the Bay and the environment which date back to the beginning of his time in Congress. Earlier this summer, Congressman Wittman voted in favor of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to pay down the National Park Service’s maintenance backlog and provides permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 

In July, Congressman Wittman joined Members from the Bay region in sending a letter  to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlighting the severe impacts COVID-19 is having on the seafood industry, requesting that USDA consider establishing a short-term purchasing program for shellfish products, including farmed and wild-caught oyster and clam products, to help sustain markets for local seafood and preserve Virginia’s robust seafood industry. 

Before being elected to Congress, Congressman Wittman served over 25 years as a public health scientist for the Virginia Department of Health, conducting field research in the Chesapeake Bay. From his experience, he is aware of the ecological challenges facing Virginia public lands, waters, and the environment. In 2018, Congressman Wittman’s historic and bipartisan Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act was signed into law to reauthorize the National Wildlife Refuge System’s volunteer, community partnership, and education programs to help ensure Americans can visit, explore, fish, hunt and study wildlife for generations to come. Congressman Wittman also serves as a Co-Chair of the Wildlife Refuge Caucus. 

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he serves as the ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.