AFS Supports FY27 Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program

March 16, 2026

Dear Chair Murkowski, Ranking Member Merkley, Chairman Simpson, and Ranking Member Pingree,

On behalf of the undersigned recreational fishing and boating organizations, representing millions of anglers, boaters, and businesses across the Chesapeake Bay watershed and nationwide, we write to express our strong support for a $96 million appropriation in Fiscal Year 2027 for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Chesapeake Bay Program.

Healthy fisheries and clean water are vital to the Chesapeake Bay’s recreational fishing and boating economy. The Bay and its tributaries support world-class fisheries for species such as striped bass, bluefish, red drum, and largemouth bass, drawing anglers from across the region and supporting guides, marinas, tackle retailers, boat manufacturers, and many other small businesses. Continued investment in the Chesapeake Bay Program will help restore critical habitats, improve water quality, and ensure that these fisheries remain productive for future generations.

Established under Section 117 of the Clean Water Act, the Chesapeake Bay Program serves as the cornerstone federal partnership supporting restoration of the nation’s largest estuary. Through the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office, the program coordinates science, monitoring, and restoration efforts across the watershed while providing technical assistance and grants to states, local governments, universities, and nonprofit organizations working to improve water quality and living resources in the Bay ecosystem. Sustained federal investment is essential to maintaining this partnership and ensuring continued progress toward restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

Funding through the Chesapeake Bay Program supports the science, modeling, monitoring, and data collection needed to guide restoration efforts across the watershed. This coordinated scientific framework allows states to plan, track, and adapt their strategies to reduce pollution and restore habitats throughout the Bay system. More than 60 percent of program funds flow directly to the states through grant programs that support on-the-ground restoration projects and leverage additional public and private investment in Bay restoration.

Congress has repeatedly demonstrated strong bipartisan support for the Chesapeake Bay Program. The program was reauthorized in the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act in 2020 and again in 2025 through the ACE Reauthorization Act, extending authorization through Fiscal Year 2030. Providing $96 million in FY27 will allow the program to continue coordinating restoration activities across the watershed, support improved monitoring and scientific capacity, and help states implement the strategies needed to meet the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement.

Thank you for your leadership and consideration of this request to support the Chesapeake Bay Program and the fisheries, communities, and businesses that depend on a healthy Chesapeake Bay.

Sincerely,

American Fisheries Society

American Sportfishing Association

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

National Marine Manufacturers Association

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership