Reintroduction of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act

Officially designating the Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA) is a long-held and worthy concept. The National Aquarium lauds the reintroduction of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (S. 1408) and appreciates that the legislation has been shaped by significant public input, including convening an advisory working group on which we, and many other stakeholders, were honored to serve. This working group helped establish strong principles to guide the legislative proposal and helped ensure the legislation was shaped by public feedback before its initial introduction. The National Aquarium is committed to helping ensure the designation of the CNRA and offered the following statement upon the legislation's reintroduction:

"We applaud Senator Chris Van Hollen for his leadership toward designating a Chesapeake National Recreation Area," said National Aquarium Chief Mission Officer Jennifer Driban. "The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, and this designation will formally recognize the significance of our nation's largest estuary, catalyze increased investment that supports recreation and conservation, and foster better public access and connection across the diverse landscapes and communities of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We appreciate and support the specific focus on expanding recreational opportunities and ensuring communities are centered throughout the effort."