Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2014

Bill: 113-s-1000
Sponsor: Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced: 2013-05-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Aquatic ecology
Chesapeake Bay
Congressional oversight
Delaware
District of Columbia
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine pollution
Maryland
New York State
Pennsylvania
Public participation and lobbying
Virginia
Water quality
Water resources funding
Watersheds
West Virginia
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: 
Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2013 - Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in consultation with the Chesapeake Executive Council, the chief executive of each Chesapeake Bay state, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission, to submit to Congress, annually, a financial report containing: (1) an interagency crosscut budget for restoration activities that protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (2) an accounting of funds received and obligated by each federal agency for restoration activities; (3) an accounting from each state of all funds received and obligated from a federal agency for restoration activities; and (4) a description of each of the proposed federal and state restoration activities. Requires: (1) such report to describe only federal restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $100,000 and state restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $50,000, and (2) the Director to submit the report no later than 30 days after the submission of the President's annual budget to Congress.
 
Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop, implement, and update biennially an adaptive management plan for restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed that includes: (1) a definition of specific and measurable objectives to improve water quality, habitat, and fisheries; (2) a process for stakeholder participation; (3) monitoring, modeling, experimentation, and other research and evaluation practices; (4) a process for modification of restoration activities that have not attained or will not attain such objectives; and (5) a process for prioritizing restoration activities and programs to which adaptive management shall be applied. Requires the Administrator to: (1) report annually to Congress on implementation of such plan, and (2) include such plan in the Chesapeake Bay Annual Action Plan and Annual Progress Report.
 
Requires an Independent Evaluator for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, who shall review and report to Congress biennially on restoration activities and the use of adaptive management in such activities and any related topics that are suggested by the Chesapeake Executive Council. Requires the Evaluator to be appointed by the Administrator from among nominees submitted by the Chesapeake Executive Council.

action_date: 2014-12-02
text: 
Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit to Congress a financial report on restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by September 30 of each year. Requires the report to contain: 
 
 
an interagency crosscut budget for federal and state restoration activities that protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
 
an accounting of funds received and obligated by each federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years; 
 
an accounting from Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia of all funds received and obligated from a federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years; and
 
a description of each of the proposed federal and state restoration activities to be carried out in the succeeding fiscal year. 
 
 
Requires the report to describe only restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $300,000 for the first three years and restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $100,000 thereafter.
 
(Sec. 4) Establishes an Independent Evaluator for the Chesapeake Bay watershed to review and report to Congress every two years on restoration activities and related topics that are suggested by the Chesapeake Executive Council. Sets forth the process for appointment of the Independent Evaluator and the qualifications for the position. 
 
(Sec. 5) Provides that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.

action_date: 2014-12-10
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 2, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit to Congress a financial report on restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by September 30 of each year. Requires the report to contain: 
 
 
an interagency crosscut budget for federal and state restoration activities that protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
 
an accounting of funds received and obligated by each federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years; 
 
an accounting from Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia of all funds received and obligated from a federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years; and
 
a description of each of the proposed federal and state restoration activities to be carried out in the succeeding fiscal year. 
 
 
Requires the report to describe only restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $300,000 for the first three years and restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $100,000 thereafter.
 
(Sec. 4) Establishes an Independent Evaluator for the Chesapeake Bay watershed to review and report to Congress every two years on restoration activities and related topics that are suggested by the Chesapeake Executive Council. Sets forth the process for appointment of the Independent Evaluator and the qualifications for the position. 
 
(Sec. 5) Provides that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.

action_date: 2014-12-18
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 2, 2014. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2014 - (Sec. 3) Requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to submit to Congress a financial report on restoration activities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by September 30 of each year. Requires the report to contain: 
 
 
an interagency crosscut budget for federal and state restoration activities that protect, conserve, or restore living resources, habitat, water resources, or water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed;
 
an accounting of funds received and obligated by each federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years; 
 
an accounting from Maryland, West Virginia, Delaware, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia of all funds received and obligated from a federal agency for restoration activities during the current and preceding fiscal years; and
 
a description of each of the proposed federal and state restoration activities to be carried out in the succeeding fiscal year. 
 
 
Requires the report to describe only restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $300,000 for the first three years and restoration activities that have funding amounts of at least $100,000 thereafter.
 
(Sec. 4) Establishes an Independent Evaluator for the Chesapeake Bay watershed to review and report to Congress every two years on restoration activities and related topics that are suggested by the Chesapeake Executive Council. Sets forth the process for appointment of the Independent Evaluator and the qualifications for the position. 
 
(Sec. 5) Provides that no additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Became Public Law No: 113-273.
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Became Public Law No: 113-273.
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2014-12-18
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2014-12-12
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 555). (text: CR 12/9/2014 H8878)
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 555).(text: CR 12/9/2014 H8878)
action_date: 2014-12-10
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8967-8968)
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 1000.
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H8878-8880)
action_date: 2014-12-09
text: Mr. Hastings (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6246-6248)
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-12-02
text: Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
action_date: 2013-05-21
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 113-273