[House Report 116-276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress    }                                     {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                     {     116-276

======================================================================



 
CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2019

                                _______
                                

 November 18, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2427]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 2427) to amend the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act 
of 1998 to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and 
Watertrails Network, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill 
as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Chesapeake Bay Gateways and 
Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act of 2019''.

SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS 
                    NETWORK.

  Section 502(c) of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (54 
U.S.C. 320101 note; Public Law 105-312) is amended by striking ``2019'' 
and inserting ``2025''.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 2427 is to amend the Chesapeake Bay 
Initiative Act of 1998 to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay 
Gateways and Watertrails Network.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network 
(Network) is a state, local, and federal partnership 
established by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998\1\ to 
help the National Park Service (NPS) and its partners connect 
people to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The Network 
is comprised of a system of more than 170 sites throughout the 
Chesapeake Bay Watershed that highlight historical interactions 
between people and the Chesapeake Bay area.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Pub. L. No. 105-312, tit. V, 112 Stat. 2961 (1998).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Since its establishment, the Network has been critical for 
expanding public access to the Chesapeake Bay and supports 
enhanced interpretation, education, youth employment, and 
recreation associated with the Chesapeake Bay and its 
tributaries.\2\ Of the 11,684 miles of shoreline in the 
Chesapeake Bay, 98% is privately owned\3\--limiting 
opportunities for the public to enjoy and experience the 
region's natural, cultural, and historic resources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\Press Release, Office of U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, Warner, 
Cardin, Delmarva Senators Call to Expand Chesapeake Bay Public Access 
(May 2, 2019), https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/5/
warner-cardin-delmarva-senators-call-to-expand-chesapeake-bay-public-
access.
    \3\Chesapeake Gateways, Chesapeake Conservancy, https://
chesapeakeconservancy.org/what-we-do/explore/find-your-chesapeake/
chesapeake-gateways/ (last visited Oct. 24, 2019).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    H.R. 2427 seeks to ensure that this vital program continues 
to promote public access to the region by extending the 
authorization of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails 
Network from 2019 to 2025. The Network, originally authorized 
through 2003,\4\ has been reauthorized several times.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\Pub. L. No. 105-312, tit. V, Sec. 502(c), 112 Stat. at 2963.
    \5\See 54 U.S.C. Sec. 320,101 note (collecting reauthorizations).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 2427 was introduced on May 1, 2019, by Representative 
John Sarbanes (D-MD). The bill was referred solely to the House 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. The 
Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill on May 22, 2019. On 
June 19, 2019, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider 
the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by animous consent. 
Chair Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment that was agreed 
to by voice vote. No additional amendments were offered, and 
the bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the 
House of Representatives by voice vote.

                                Hearings

    For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 
116th Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or 
consider H.R. 2427: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on 
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on May 22, 2019.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the 
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                     Washington, DC, June 28, 2019.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2427, the 
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization 
Act of 2019.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is David Hughes.
            Sincerely,
                                             Mark P. Hadley
                                 (For Phillip L. Swagel, Director).
    Enclosure.

              [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    H.R. 2427 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million 
annually for the National Park Service's (NPS's) Chesapeake Bay 
Gateways and Watertrails Network grant program from 2020 
through 2025. Under current law, that authorization expires at 
the end of 2019. In 2018 and 2019, the NPS allocated about $2 
million each year for the program. Assuming appropriation of 
the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 
2427 would cost $13 million over the 2019-2024 period and $5 
million after 2024.
    The costs of the legislation (detailed in Table 1) fall 
within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

               TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 2427
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
                                                            ----------------------------------------------------
                                                              2019   2020   2021   2022   2023   2024  2019-2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorization..............................................      0      3      3      3      3      3        15
Estimated Outlays..........................................      0      2      2      3      3      3        13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Hughes. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill is to amend the Chesapeake Bay 
Initiative Act of 1998 to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay 
Gateways and Watertrails Network.

                           Earmark Statement

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                           Existing Programs

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program. Such program was not included in any report from the 
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111--139. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways 
Network (CFDA No. 15.930) reauthorized by this bill is related 
and complementary to, but not duplicative of, the following 
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance published pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6104: 
National Trails System Projects (CFDA No. 15.935).

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                 CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE V--CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 502. CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS.

  (a) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior 
        (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), in 
        cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental 
        Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the 
        ``Administrator''), shall provide technical and 
        financial assistance, in cooperation with other Federal 
        agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit 
        organizations, and the private sector--
                  (A) to identify, conserve, restore, and 
                interpret natural, recreational, historical, 
                and cultural resources within the Chesapeake 
                Bay Watershed;
                  (B) to identify and utilize the collective 
                resources as Chesapeake Bay Gateways sites for 
                enhancing public education of and access to the 
                Chesapeake Bay;
                  (C) to link the Chesapeake Bay Gateways sites 
                with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and 
                other connections as determined by the 
                Secretary;
                  (D) to develop and establish Chesapeake Bay 
                Watertrails comprising water routes and 
                connections to Chesapeake Bay Gateways sites 
                and other land resources within the Chesapeake 
                Bay Watershed; and
                  (E) to create a network of Chesapeake Bay 
                Gateways sites and Chesapeake Bay Watertrails.
          (2) Components.--Components of the Chesapeake Bay 
        Gateways and Watertrails Network may include--
                  (A) State or Federal parks or refuges;
                  (B) historic seaports;
                  (C) archaeological, cultural, historical, or 
                recreational sites; or
                  (D) other public access and interpretive 
                sites as selected by the Secretary.
  (b) Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
        the Administrator, shall establish a Chesapeake Bay 
        Gateways Grants Assistance Program to aid State and 
        local governments, local communities, nonprofit 
        organizations, and the private sector in conserving, 
        restoring, and interpreting important historic, 
        cultural, recreational, and natural resources within 
        the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
          (2) Criteria.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
        Administrator, shall develop appropriate eligibility, 
        prioritization, and review criteria for grants under 
        this section.
          (3) Matching funds and administrative expenses.--A 
        grant under this section--
                  (A) shall not exceed 50 percent of eligible 
                project costs;
                  (B) shall be made on the condition that non-
                Federal sources, including in-kind 
                contributions of services or materials, provide 
                the remainder of eligible project costs; and
                  (C) shall be made on the condition that not 
                more than 10 percent of all eligible project 
                costs be used for administrative expenses.
  (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 1999 through [2019] 2025.

        Supplemental, Minority, Additional, or Dissenting Views

    None.

                                  [all]