John Sarbanes: “I pledge that we will get to the bottom of this so we can ensure that this outbreak, things like this never ever occur…”

It's a national environmental treasure. It's a regional economic engine. It's been one of my top priorities since I've come to Congress.

I hope that today's hearing is the first step in continuing that legacy of strong bipartisan support for the Chesapeake Bay in this Congress.

But these are dramatic changes that can bring us to a new place and, I think, have given many people a sense of hope instead of despair in the face of what we are seeing with a warming planet.

Without the strong and continued investment the EPA has requested for the Chesapeake Bay Program in fiscal year 2024, the risk is we could jeopardize decades of work in collaboration towards the Bay's restoration.