This bill reauthorizes and updates the Chesapeake Bay Office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which coordinates federal science, restoration, and education efforts for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It restructures the office's leadership and mission, requiring the Director to have expertise in Bay research or management, and expands the office's focus to include coastal hazards, education, and integrated ecosystem assessments. The legislation formally establishes three key programs: an integrated coastal observation system (including the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System), a watershed education and training program with grants for schools and teachers, and a Coastal and Living Resources Management and Habitat Program targeting oysters, blue crabs, fish species, and wetland restoration. It affects students, teachers, scientists, resource managers, and communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay region who rely on federal support for environmental monitoring and restoration. The bill also requires NOAA to submit biennial reports to Congress detailing the office's progress and a two-year action plan, ensuring ongoing accountability and coordination with the broader Chesapeake Bay Program and its partner agencies.
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