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116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 116-276
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CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2019
_______
November 18, 2019.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2427]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 2427) to amend the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act
of 1998 to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and
Watertrails Network, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill
as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Chesapeake Bay Gateways and
Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS
NETWORK.
Section 502(c) of the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (54
U.S.C. 320101 note; Public Law 105-312) is amended by striking ``2019''
and inserting ``2025''.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 2427 is to amend the Chesapeake Bay
Initiative Act of 1998 to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay
Gateways and Watertrails Network.
Background and Need for Legislation
The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network
(Network) is a state, local, and federal partnership
established by the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998\1\ to
help the National Park Service (NPS) and its partners connect
people to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The Network
is comprised of a system of more than 170 sites throughout the
Chesapeake Bay Watershed that highlight historical interactions
between people and the Chesapeake Bay area.
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\1\Pub. L. No. 105-312, tit. V, 112 Stat. 2961 (1998).
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Since its establishment, the Network has been critical for
expanding public access to the Chesapeake Bay and supports
enhanced interpretation, education, youth employment, and
recreation associated with the Chesapeake Bay and its
tributaries.\2\ Of the 11,684 miles of shoreline in the
Chesapeake Bay, 98% is privately owned\3\--limiting
opportunities for the public to enjoy and experience the
region's natural, cultural, and historic resources.
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\2\Press Release, Office of U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, Warner,
Cardin, Delmarva Senators Call to Expand Chesapeake Bay Public Access
(May 2, 2019), https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/5/
warner-cardin-delmarva-senators-call-to-expand-chesapeake-bay-public-
access.
\3\Chesapeake Gateways, Chesapeake Conservancy, https://
chesapeakeconservancy.org/what-we-do/explore/find-your-chesapeake/
chesapeake-gateways/ (last visited Oct. 24, 2019).
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H.R. 2427 seeks to ensure that this vital program continues
to promote public access to the region by extending the
authorization of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails
Network from 2019 to 2025. The Network, originally authorized
through 2003,\4\ has been reauthorized several times.\5\
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\4\Pub. L. No. 105-312, tit. V, Sec. 502(c), 112 Stat. at 2963.
\5\See 54 U.S.C. Sec. 320,101 note (collecting reauthorizations).
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COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 2427 was introduced on May 1, 2019, by Representative
John Sarbanes (D-MD). The bill was referred solely to the House
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. The
Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill on May 22, 2019. On
June 19, 2019, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider
the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by animous consent.
Chair Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) offered an amendment that was agreed
to by voice vote. No additional amendments were offered, and
the bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the
House of Representatives by voice vote.
Hearings
For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the
116th Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or
consider H.R. 2427: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on May 22, 2019.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 28, 2019.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2427, the
Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization
Act of 2019.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is David Hughes.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Hadley
(For Phillip L. Swagel, Director).
Enclosure.
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
H.R. 2427 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million
annually for the National Park Service's (NPS's) Chesapeake Bay
Gateways and Watertrails Network grant program from 2020
through 2025. Under current law, that authorization expires at
the end of 2019. In 2018 and 2019, the NPS allocated about $2
million each year for the program. Assuming appropriation of
the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R.
2427 would cost $13 million over the 2019-2024 period and $5
million after 2024.
The costs of the legislation (detailed in Table 1) fall
within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).
TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED INCREASES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION UNDER H.R. 2427
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By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
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2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2019-2024
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Authorization.............................................. 0 3 3 3 3 3 15
Estimated Outlays.......................................... 0 2 2 3 3 3 13
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The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Hughes.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of Rule XIII, the general performance goals and
objectives of this bill is to amend the Chesapeake Bay
Initiative Act of 1998 to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay
Gateways and Watertrails Network.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Existing Programs
This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of
the federal government known to be duplicative of another
program. Such program was not included in any report from the
Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111--139. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways
Network (CFDA No. 15.930) reauthorized by this bill is related
and complementary to, but not duplicative of, the following
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance published pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6104:
National Trails System Projects (CFDA No. 15.935).
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998
* * * * * * *
TITLE V--CHESAPEAKE BAY INITIATIVE
* * * * * * *
SEC. 502. CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS.
(a) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), in
cooperation with the Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency (referred to in this section as the
``Administrator''), shall provide technical and
financial assistance, in cooperation with other Federal
agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit
organizations, and the private sector--
(A) to identify, conserve, restore, and
interpret natural, recreational, historical,
and cultural resources within the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed;
(B) to identify and utilize the collective
resources as Chesapeake Bay Gateways sites for
enhancing public education of and access to the
Chesapeake Bay;
(C) to link the Chesapeake Bay Gateways sites
with trails, tour roads, scenic byways, and
other connections as determined by the
Secretary;
(D) to develop and establish Chesapeake Bay
Watertrails comprising water routes and
connections to Chesapeake Bay Gateways sites
and other land resources within the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed; and
(E) to create a network of Chesapeake Bay
Gateways sites and Chesapeake Bay Watertrails.
(2) Components.--Components of the Chesapeake Bay
Gateways and Watertrails Network may include--
(A) State or Federal parks or refuges;
(B) historic seaports;
(C) archaeological, cultural, historical, or
recreational sites; or
(D) other public access and interpretive
sites as selected by the Secretary.
(b) Chesapeake Bay Gateways Grants Assistance Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in cooperation with
the Administrator, shall establish a Chesapeake Bay
Gateways Grants Assistance Program to aid State and
local governments, local communities, nonprofit
organizations, and the private sector in conserving,
restoring, and interpreting important historic,
cultural, recreational, and natural resources within
the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
(2) Criteria.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the
Administrator, shall develop appropriate eligibility,
prioritization, and review criteria for grants under
this section.
(3) Matching funds and administrative expenses.--A
grant under this section--
(A) shall not exceed 50 percent of eligible
project costs;
(B) shall be made on the condition that non-
Federal sources, including in-kind
contributions of services or materials, provide
the remainder of eligible project costs; and
(C) shall be made on the condition that not
more than 10 percent of all eligible project
costs be used for administrative expenses.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each
of fiscal years 1999 through [2019] 2025.
Supplemental, Minority, Additional, or Dissenting Views
None.
[all]
