PRINTER'S NO. 1613
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
319
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY YAW, MARTIN, TARTAGLIONE, BREWSTER, FONTANA,
IOVINO, DINNIMAN, J. WARD, BLAKE, BARTOLOTTA, BROWNE, AUMENT,
HUGHES AND SCAVELLO, APRIL 3, 2020
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 3, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Commending the Chesapeake Bay Commission.
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a tri-state
government entity of the legislative branches of the
Commonwealth and the states of Maryland and Virginia, required
by current statute to assist, advise, recommend and "enhance the
functions, powers, and duties" of each state's General Assembly
regarding Chesapeake Bay law and policy; and
WHEREAS, Chesapeake Bay Commission member state delegations
are comprised of seven members, with two members representing
each senate, three members representing each house, one member
representing each governor and one member representing the
citizens-at-large; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a bipartisan,
objective entity tasked with identifying concerns requiring
interjurisdictional coordination and cooperation, collecting,
analyzing and disseminating information pertaining to the region
and its resources for the respective legislative bodies,
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recommending legislative and administrative actions necessary to
encourage effective and cooperative management of the Chesapeake
Bay and representing the common interests of the member states
as they are affected by the activities of the Federal
Government; and
WHEREAS, The chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission is a
member of the Chesapeake Executive Council and signatory of the
Chesapeake Bay agreements, representing the legislative branches
of the member states; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay Commission serves as the official
legislative arm of the multijurisdictional Chesapeake Bay
Program and is the designated regional liaison to the Congress
of the United States for Chesapeake Bay law and policy; and
WHEREAS, The Chesapeake Bay Commission first convened on
December 17, 1980, and in the four decades since has championed
important legislative and policy initiatives at the Federal and
state level, including bi-state blue crab management, nutrient
management, agricultural conservation funding and open space
preservation, among other issues and initiatives; and
WHEREAS, These initiatives have contributed to noticeable
signs of improvement in the Chesapeake Bay, despite significant
growth of the human population in the watershed over the same
time period; and
WHEREAS, The role of the Chesapeake Bay Commission is even
more necessary today as its member states face a 2025 deadline
to achieve nutrient and sediment reduction goals for the
Chesapeake Bay; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate commend the Chesapeake Bay
Commission, a model of effective interstate and
intergovernmental relations and policymaking, on the occasion of
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its 40th anniversary.
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