Chesapeake Bay Executive Council meeting talking points, 2005?

Chesapeake Bay Executive Council Capitol Hill Meetings - Talking Points KWyiy LWS 'g£LL SA'AiC IrJl&Vbtt .. ЛгРРЗ [ Луг Tu/o У LAej ’( Му administration is committed to restoration of the Chesapeake Bay I proposed and signed into law legislation establishing a Bay Restoration fund that will provide capital to upgrade the 66 largest wastewater treatment plants in the state and subsidize cover crops to reduce the flow of nutrients into the bay. I have lobbied the President to raise the priority level of the bay restoration. In response to my requests for additional funding, the President included a $10 million Targeted Watershed Pilot Program for the bay in his FY05 budget; Congress funded it at $8 million. The Bush Administration has also provided an additional $10 million, over and above the formula allocation, in agriculture conservation funding for the bay watershed region in 2004 and 2005. Despite the work of states and our congressional delegations, we are a long way from our goals. Need to improve coordination and build a stronger coalition. My administration and the other bay watershed states want to work with Congress to increase funding for existing programs and develop a long-term strategy for a comprehensive restoration initiative that includes significant federal contribution. While the Chesapeake Bay has been a model for other restoration efforts around the country, we need to ensure that the bay becomes a top federal priority. *Note: In addition to the Everglades, other environmental restoration efforts are surpassing the Bay in terms of visibility and funding. Below are two recent examples. Great Lakes - The President’s FY06 budget request full funding of $50 million for the Great Lakes Legacy program. This represents a $27.5 million increase and more than doubles FY05 funding. The President’s budget also includes $2 million for a new Great Lakes Restoration Office to assist with coordination efforts called for in May 2004 Executive Order. There is also $14 requested for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, a $1 million increase over FY05 funding. Louisiana Delta - Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and the Army Corps of Engineers recently signed a $1.9 billion initial restoration plan to reverse Louisiana's coastal losses. The state has worked with federal and university officials during the past three years to develop a master plan for the rapidly eroding coastline and other lands that comprise a nationally significant ecosystem. In order to execute the plan, Congress must now approve it and must provide Louisiana with a continuing source of money from offshore oil production to pay the state's estimated $728 million share. C _ < 5fit.1t*- Ci) 0уГГ«-5