[House Report 116-338]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress    }                                          {     Report
                           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                          {    116-338

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



 
               CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT

                                _______
                                

 December 12, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. DeFazio, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1620]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 1620) to amend the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay 
Program, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Purpose of Legislation...........................................     1
Background and Need for Legislation..............................     2
Hearings.........................................................     2
Legislative History and Consideration............................     3
Committee Votes..................................................     3
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     3
New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures........................     3
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate........................     4
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     5
Duplication of Federal Programs..................................     5
Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
  Benefits.......................................................     5
Federal Mandates Statement.......................................     5
Preemption Clarification.........................................     5
Advisory Committee Statement.....................................     6
Applicability to Legislative Branch..............................     6
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation...................     6
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............     6

                         Purpose of Legislation

    H.R. 1620 reauthorizes Federal appropriations for the U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program 
with incremental increases over the next five years.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United 
States, covering more than 4,500 square miles, and draining a 
64,000 square mile watershed that extends across parts of 
Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and 
the District of Columbia.
    In 1983, Congress established the Chesapeake Bay Program, 
authorized under section 117 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 
1267). The Chesapeake Bay Program implements the Chesapeake Bay 
Agreement, a periodically renewed agreement between executives 
in the six watershed states and the District of Columbia, a 
joint Bay state legislative body (the Chesapeake Bay 
Commission) and select federal agencies (including EPA) that 
aim to coordinate Bay restoration efforts. The most recent 
agreement was signed in 2014 (known as the 2014 Chesapeake Bay 
Watershed Agreement) and set a series of restoration goals and 
actions to be completed by 2025.
    Other restoration plans--including the 2010 Chesapeake Bay 
Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay 
Watershed (pursuant to Executive Order 13508), the 2010 
Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) (developed by 
EPA, under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, in 
coordination with the Bay watershed states), and a draft 
Comprehensive Plan from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--
harmonize with the goals of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed 
Agreement and contain objectives for federal agencies and 
states.
    Despite prior investments and increased attention, the 
Chesapeake Bay watershed and ecosystem remains under tremendous 
stress. Sustained and elevated levels of pollution, including 
nutrients and sediment, have resulted in water quality and 
habitat degradation and have also contributed to a decline in 
the population of some species.
    The 2017 Chesapeake Bay TMDL Midpoint Assessment of state 
and Federal efforts found that the collaborative efforts of 
EPA, the Bay watershed states, and stakeholders have made 
considerable progress in reducing pollution to local waters and 
the Chesapeake Bay, resulting in record acreage of underwater 
grasses and the highest estimates of water quality standards 
attained in more than 30 years.\1\ However, continued efforts 
with sustained funding are necessary to address sources of 
nutrient and sediment loads threatening the watershed, 
including agricultural runoff, wastewater treatment facilities, 
land-use changes, urban stormwater runoff, and atmospheric 
deposition.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\EPA, Midpoint Assessment of the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum 
Daily Load, July 27, 2018.
    \2\EPA, Chesapeake Bay Compliance and Enforcement Strategy, May 
2010. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-04/documents/
chesapeake-strategy-enforcement-2.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                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. 1620:
    On June 25, 2019, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and 
Environment held a hearing, titled ``Protecting and Restoring 
America's Iconic Waters''. The Subcommittee received testimony 
from: Preston D. Cole, Secretary, Wisconsin Department of 
Natural Resources; Dave Pine, Supervisor, District 1, San Mateo 
County Board of Supervisors, Chair of the San Francisco Bay 
Restoration Authority Governing Board; Laura Blackmore, 
Executive Director, Puget Sound Partnership; William C. Baker, 
President, Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Kristi Trail, Executive 
Director, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation; and Tom Ford, 
Director, Santa Monica Bay National Estuary Program, The Bay 
Foundation. Topics discussed included the importance of 
reauthorization of EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program Office to 
continue making progress to restore and maintain the ecological 
health and water quality related to the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed.

                 Legislative History and Consideration

    H.R. 1620 was introduced in the House on March 7, 2019, by 
Mrs. Luria, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Scott of Virginia, and Mr. 
Sarbanes, and referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. Within the Committee, H.R. 1620 was referred to 
the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
    The Chair discharged the Subcommittee on Water Resources 
and Environment from further consideration of H.R. 1620 on 
September 19, 2019.
    The Committee met in open session to consider H.R. 1620 on 
September 19, 2019, and ordered the measure to be reported to 
the House with a favorable recommendation, without amendment, 
by voice vote, a quorum being present.
    The following amendment was offered:
    An amendment offered by Mr. Perry (#1); Add at the end a 
new section entitled ``Sec. 3. Analysis Required.''; was 
WITHDRAWN by unanimous consent.

                            Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires each committee report to include the 
total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote 
on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the 
measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for 
and against.
    There were no recorded votes taken in connection with 
consideration of H.R. 1620.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

    With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in this report.

               New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures

    Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and 
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the 
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is 
included in this report.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has 
received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1620 from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                   Washington, DC, October 2, 2019.
Hon. Peter A. DeFazio,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1620, the 
Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Stephen 
Rabent.
            Sincerely,
                                             Mark P. Hadley
                                 (For Phillip L. Swagel, Director).
    Enclosure.

    
    

    H.R. 4275 would authorize appropriations totaling $455 
million over the 2020-2024 period for the Environmental 
Protection Agency's (EPA's) Chesapeake Bay Program. That 
program provides technical assistance and grant funding for 
projects and programs aimed at restoring the Chesapeake Bay. In 
2019, EPA received appropriations totaling $73 million to carry 
out the program.
    Assuming appropriation of the specified amounts and based 
on historical spending patterns, CBO estimates that 
implementing the bill would cost $405 million over the 2020-
2024 period and $50 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. 1620
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
                                                                    --------------------------------------------
                                                                                                          2020-
                                                                      2020   2021   2022   2023   2024    2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorization......................................................     90     90     91     92     92       455
Estimated Outlays..................................................     56     77     86     91     92       405
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Stephen Rabent. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                    Performance Goals and Objectives

    With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
performance goal and objective of this legislation is to 
reauthorize Federal appropriations for EPA's Chesapeake Bay 
Program Office to continue the collaborative efforts between 
EPA, the Bay watershed states, and stakeholders to continue 
progress in improving water quality and reducing pollution to 
the Chesapeake Bay.

                    Duplication of Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision 
of H.R. 1620 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the 
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal 
program, a program that was included in any report from the 
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a 
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance.

   Congressional Earmarks, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff 
                                Benefits

    In compliance with clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no 
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of the rule 
XXI.

                       Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act (Public Law 104-4).

                        Preemption Clarification

    Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint 
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the 
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, 
or tribal law. The Committee finds that H.R. 1620 does not 
preempt any state, local, or tribal law.

                      Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                  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 (Public Law 
104-1).

             Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation


Section 1. Short title

    This section provides that this bill may be cited as the 
``Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act''.

Sec. 2. Reauthorization of Chesapeake Bay Program

    This section amends section 117(j) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act to authorize Federal appropriations for 
the Chesapeake Bay Program in the following amounts: $90 
million for fiscal year 2020; $90.5 million for fiscal year 
2021; $91 million for fiscal year 2022; $91.5 million for 
fiscal year 2023; and $92 million for fiscal year 2024.

         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 italic, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

                  FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT




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TITLE I--RESEARCH AND RELATED PROGRAMS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



SEC. 117. CHESAPEAKE BAY.

  (a) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions 
apply:
          (1) Administrative cost.--The term ``administrative 
        cost'' means the cost of salaries and fringe benefits 
        incurred in administering a grant under this section.
          (2) Chesapeake bay agreement.--The term ``Chesapeake 
        Bay Agreement'' means the formal, voluntary agreements 
        executed to achieve the goal of restoring and 
        protecting the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and the living 
        resources of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and signed by 
        the Chesapeake Executive Council.
          (3) Chesapeake bay ecosystem.--The term ``Chesapeake 
        Bay ecosystem'' means the ecosystem of the Chesapeake 
        Bay and its watershed.
          (4) Chesapeake bay program.--The term ``Chesapeake 
        Bay Program'' means the program directed by the 
        Chesapeake Executive Council in accordance with the 
        Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
          (5) Chesapeake executive council.--The term 
        ``Chesapeake Executive Council'' means the signatories 
        to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
          (6) Signatory jurisdiction.--The term ``signatory 
        jurisdiction'' means a jurisdiction of a signatory to 
        the Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
  (b) Continuation of Chesapeake Bay Program.--
          (1) In general.--In cooperation with the Chesapeake 
        Executive Council (and as a member of the Council), the 
        Administrator shall continue the Chesapeake Bay 
        Program.
          (2) Program office.--
                  (A) In general.--The Administrator shall 
                maintain in the Environmental Protection Agency 
                a Chesapeake Bay Program Office.
                  (B) Function.--The Chesapeake Bay Program 
                Office shall provide support to the Chesapeake 
                Executive Council by--
                          (i) implementing and coordinating 
                        science, research, modeling, support 
                        services, monitoring, data collection, 
                        and other activities that support the 
                        Chesapeake Bay Program;
                          (ii) developing and making available, 
                        through publications, technical 
                        assistance, and other appropriate 
                        means, information pertaining to the 
                        environmental quality and living 
                        resources of the Chesapeake Bay 
                        ecosystem;
                          (iii) in cooperation with appropriate 
                        Federal, State, and local authorities, 
                        assisting the signatories to the 
                        Chesapeake Bay Agreement in developing 
                        and implementing specific action plans 
                        to carry out the responsibilities of 
                        the signatories to the Chesapeake Bay 
                        Agreement;
                          (iv) coordinating the actions of the 
                        Environmental Protection Agency with 
                        the actions of the appropriate 
                        officials of other Federal agencies and 
                        State and local authorities in 
                        developing strategies to--
                                  (I) improve the water quality 
                                and living resources in the 
                                Chesapeake Bay ecosystem; and
                                  (II) obtain the support of 
                                the appropriate officials of 
                                the agencies and authorities in 
                                achieving the objectives of the 
                                Chesapeake Bay Agreement; and
                          (v) implementing outreach programs 
                        for public information, education, and 
                        participation to foster stewardship of 
                        the resources of the Chesapeake Bay.
  (c) Interagency Agreements.--The Administrator may enter into 
an interagency agreement with a Federal agency to carry out 
this section.
  (d) Technical Assistance and Assistance Grants.--
          (1) In general.--In cooperation with the Chesapeake 
        Executive Council, the Administrator may provide 
        technical assistance, and assistance grants, to 
        nonprofit organizations, State and local governments, 
        colleges, universities, and interstate agencies to 
        carry out this section, subject to such terms and 
        conditions as the Administrator considers appropriate.
          (2) Federal share.--
                  (A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the Federal share of an 
                assistance grant provided under paragraph (1) 
                shall be determined by the Administrator in 
                accordance with guidance issued by the 
                Administrator.
                  (B) Small watershed grants program.--The 
                Federal share of an assistance grant provided 
                under paragraph (1) to carry out an 
                implementing activity under subsection (g)(2) 
                shall not exceed 75 percent of eligible project 
                costs, as determined by the Administrator.
          (3) Non-federal share.--An assistance grant under 
        paragraph (1) shall be provided on the condition that 
        non-Federal sources provide the remainder of eligible 
        project costs, as determined by the Administrator.
          (4) Administrative costs.--Administrative costs shall 
        not exceed 10 percent of the annual grant award.
  (e) Implementation and Monitoring Grants.--
          (1) In general.--If a signatory jurisdiction has 
        approved and committed to implement all or 
        substantially all aspects of the Chesapeake Bay 
        Agreement, on the request of the chief executive of the 
        jurisdiction, the Administrator--
                  (A) shall make a grant to the jurisdiction 
                for the purpose of implementing the management 
                mechanisms established under the Chesapeake Bay 
                Agreement, subject to such terms and conditions 
                as the Administrator considers appropriate; and
                  (B) may make a grant to a signatory 
                jurisdiction for the purpose of monitoring the 
                Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
          (2) Proposals.--
                  (A) In general.--A signatory jurisdiction 
                described in paragraph (1) may apply for a 
                grant under this subsection for a fiscal year 
                by submitting to the Administrator a 
                comprehensive proposal to implement management 
                mechanisms established under the Chesapeake Bay 
                Agreement.
                  (B) Contents.--A proposal under subparagraph 
                (A) shall include--
                          (i) a description of proposed 
                        management mechanisms that the 
                        jurisdiction commits to take within a 
                        specified time period, such as reducing 
                        or preventing pollution in the 
                        Chesapeake Bay and its watershed or 
                        meeting applicable water quality 
                        standards or established goals and 
                        objectives under the Chesapeake Bay 
                        Agreement; and
                          (ii) the estimated cost of the 
                        actions proposed to be taken during the 
                        fiscal year.
          (3) Approval.--If the Administrator finds that the 
        proposal is consistent with the Chesapeake Bay 
        Agreement and the national goals established under 
        section 101(a), the Administrator may approve the 
        proposal for an award.
          (4) Federal share.--The Federal share of a grant 
        under this subsection shall not exceed 50 percent of 
        the cost of implementing the management mechanisms 
        during the fiscal year.
          (5) Non-federal share.--A grant under this subsection 
        shall be made on the condition that non-Federal sources 
        provide the remainder of the costs of implementing the 
        management mechanisms during the fiscal year.
          (6) Administrative costs.--Administrative costs shall 
        not exceed 10 percent of the annual grant award.
          (7) Reporting.--On or before October 1 of each fiscal 
        year, the Administrator shall make available to the 
        public a document that lists and describes, in the 
        greatest practicable degree of detail--
                  (A) all projects and activities funded for 
                the fiscal year;
                  (B) the goals and objectives of projects 
                funded for the previous fiscal year; and
                  (C) the net benefits of projects funded for 
                previous fiscal years.
  (f) Federal Facilities and Budget Coordination.--
          (1) Subwatershed planning and restoration.--A Federal 
        agency that owns or operates a facility (as defined by 
        the Administrator) within the Chesapeake Bay watershed 
        shall participate in regional and subwatershed planning 
        and restoration programs.
          (2) Compliance with agreement.--The head of each 
        Federal agency that owns or occupies real property in 
        the Chesapeake Bay watershed shall ensure that the 
        property, and actions taken by the agency with respect 
        to the property, comply with the Chesapeake Bay 
        Agreement, the Federal Agencies Chesapeake Ecosystem 
        Unified Plan, and any subsequent agreements and plans.
          (3) Budget coordination.--
                  (A) In general.--As part of the annual budget 
                submission of each Federal agency with projects 
                or grants related to restoration, planning, 
                monitoring, or scientific investigation of the 
                Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, the head of the 
                agency shall submit to the President a report 
                that describes plans for the expenditure of the 
                funds under this section.
                  (B) Disclosure to the council.--The head of 
                each agency referred to in subparagraph (A) 
                shall disclose the report under that 
                subparagraph with the Chesapeake Executive 
                Council as appropriate.
  (g) Chesapeake Bay Program.--
          (1) Management strategies.--The Administrator, in 
        coordination with other members of the Chesapeake 
        Executive Council, shall ensure that management plans 
        are developed and implementation is begun by 
        signatories to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to achieve 
        and maintain--
                  (A) the nutrient goals of the Chesapeake Bay 
                Agreement for the quantity of nitrogen and 
                phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay and its 
                watershed;
                  (B) the water quality requirements necessary 
                to restore living resources in the Chesapeake 
                Bay ecosystem;
                  (C) the Chesapeake Bay Basinwide Toxins 
                Reduction and Prevention Strategy goal of 
                reducing or eliminating the input of chemical 
                contaminants from all controllable sources to 
                levels that result in no toxic or 
                bioaccumulative impact on the living resources 
                of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem or on human 
                health;
                  (D) habitat restoration, protection, 
                creation, and enhancement goals established by 
                Chesapeake Bay Agreement signatories for 
                wetlands, riparian forests, and other types of 
                habitat associated with the Chesapeake Bay 
                ecosystem; and
                  (E) the restoration, protection, creation, 
                and enhancement goals established by the 
                Chesapeake Bay Agreement signatories for living 
                resources associated with the Chesapeake Bay 
                ecosystem.
          (2) Small watershed grants program.--The 
        Administrator, in cooperation with the Chesapeake 
        Executive Council, shall--
                  (A) establish a small watershed grants 
                program as part of the Chesapeake Bay Program; 
                and
                  (B) offer technical assistance and assistance 
                grants under subsection (d) to local 
                governments and nonprofit organizations and 
                individuals in the Chesapeake Bay region to 
                implement--
                          (i) cooperative tributary basin 
                        strategies that address the water 
                        quality and living resource needs in 
                        the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem; and
                          (ii) locally based protection and 
                        restoration programs or projects within 
                        a watershed that complement the 
                        tributary basin strategies, including 
                        the creation, restoration, protection, 
                        or enhancement of habitat associated 
                        with the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
  (h) Study of Chesapeake Bay Program.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than April 22, 2003, and 
        every 5 years thereafter, the Administrator, in 
        coordination with the Chesapeake Executive Council, 
        shall complete a study and submit to Congress a 
        comprehensive report on the results of the study.
          (2) Requirements.--The study and report shall--
                  (A) assess the state of the Chesapeake Bay 
                ecosystem;
                  (B) compare the current state of the 
                Chesapeake Bay ecosystem with its state in 
                1975, 1985, and 1995;
                  (C) assess the effectiveness of management 
                strategies being implemented on the date of 
                enactment of this section and the extent to 
                which the priority needs are being met;
                  (D) make recommendations for the improved 
                management of the Chesapeake Bay Program either 
                by strengthening strategies being implemented 
                on the date of enactment of this section or by 
                adopting new strategies; and
                  (E) be presented in such a format as to be 
                readily transferable to and usable by other 
                watershed restoration programs.
  (i) Special Study of Living Resource Response.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this section, the Administrator 
        shall commence a 5-year special study with full 
        participation of the scientific community of the 
        Chesapeake Bay to establish and expand understanding of 
        the response of the living resources of the Chesapeake 
        Bay ecosystem to improvements in water quality that 
        have resulted from investments made through the 
        Chesapeake Bay Program.
          (2) Requirements.--The study shall--
                  (A) determine the current status and trends 
                of living resources, including grasses, 
                benthos, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, and 
                shellfish;
                  (B) establish to the extent practicable the 
                rates of recovery of the living resources in 
                response to improved water quality condition;
                  (C) evaluate and assess interactions of 
                species, with particular attention to the 
                impact of changes within and among trophic 
                levels; and
                  (D) recommend management actions to optimize 
                the return of a healthy and balanced ecosystem 
                in response to improvements in the quality and 
                character of the waters of the Chesapeake Bay.
          (3) Annual survey.--The Administrator shall carry out 
        an annual survey of sea grasses in the Chesapeake Bay.
  (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this section [$40,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2001 through 2005] $90,000,000 for fiscal year 
2020, $90,500,000 for fiscal year 2021, $91,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2022, $91,500,000 for fiscal year 2023, and $92,000,000 
for fiscal year 2024. Such sums shall remain available until 
expended.

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