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Congressman Connolly Introduces Chesapeake Bay Bill

Congressman Gerry Connolly, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Congressman Jim Moran have introduced legislation to protect local streams, major rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay by eliminating nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution associated with impervious surface areas like parking lots.

“The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure,” said Congressman Connolly.  “This legislation will restore America’s largest estuary by finally reducing the serious problem of pollution from impervious surface areas.”

“This legislation is consistent with Washington, D.C.’s model efforts to use Low Impact Development techniques to reduce stormwater runoff,” said Congresswoman Norton.

“Storm water run-off from impermeable surfaces, roads, parking lots and buildings, is a leading cause of Bay pollution,” Moran said. “This legislation would reduce this threat, a key piece in the long term push to protect and preserve the Bay for future generations.”

The Connolly/Norton/Moran bill – the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act, H.R. 3265 -- is endorsed by the Chesapeake Bay Coalition, which represents 60 groups such as Ducks Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, James River Association, Potomac Conservancy, Anacostia Riverkeeper, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.

“Discharge of polluted storm water runoff is a huge problem for water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and many local streams.  CBF appreciates Congressman Connolly's efforts to draw attention to the issue and bring the power of the federal government to solving the problem bay-wide. In conjunction with strong state efforts like the proposed storm water  regulations in Virginia, passage of this bill could significantly reduce pollutant loading to the Bay and local streams,” Doug Siglin, federal affairs director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said.

"This bill would make Bay-friendly low impact development the new norm, which will reduce costs, make neighborhoods more attractive, and clean up the Bay," says Nancy Stoner, Co-Director of the Water Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Congressman Connolly, Congresswoman Norton, and Congressman Moran developed the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act in consultation with Bay advocacy groups, local government officials, and other interested parties.

“This is a regional problem that must be addressed with a regional solution,” Connolly said.

The text of the bill can be found at:  http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/thomas

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Tue, 10/27/2009 - 4:37pm — Jay Jack (not verified)

Extend the $8000 tax credit

Just a note from a real estate agents perspective and that is that many of these banks have a way of delaying these settlements that your constituents have been committed to for some time but may miss closing on before the Dec. 1st deadline.

I would like to propose that even though most of us would like to see this tax credit extended through the spring and some of these soon to be foreclosed homes that the banks have been sitting on be released so that the buyers have something to go after.  This is ridiculous that committed service families and others may not have a chance to receive this credit, through no fault of their own. 

Please extend the credit and even increase the credited amount and make it a $15000 credit that should be paid back over 30 years at a $500 charge, annually on their income taxes.  This will give all hard working americans a chance to be a first time buyer or even a current owner upgrading to a nicer homes and Uncle Sam will actually recieve some payback for this stimulous.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jay Jack