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This bill reauthorizes and significantly expands the Chesapeake Bay Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The legislation strengthens the office's leadership and broadens its responsibilities to include new focus areas like coastal hazards, climate change, and education. The bill establishes three major new programs: a Watershed Education and Training Program to improve environmental literacy among students and teachers, an integrated coastal observations system to monitor water quality and living resources, and a Coastal and Living Resources Management and Habitat Program focused on restoring oysters, crabs, aquatic vegetation, and fish species. The bill authorizes approximately $17 million for fiscal year 2024, increasing to roughly $22.6 million by 2027, with funding to support research, education grants, habitat restoration, and monitoring activities across the Chesapeake Bay region. The legislation affects environmental managers, educators, students, fishing communities, and anyone concerned with the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which spans six states and the District of Columbia.

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