Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act
Download PDFSponsored by
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
ID: S000185
Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Subcommittee Hearings Held
March 26, 2026
Introduced
Committee Review
📍 Current Status
Next: The bill moves to the floor for full chamber debate and voting.
Floor Action
Passed House
Senate Review
Passed Congress
Presidential Action
Became Law
📚 How does a bill become a law?
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Bill Summary
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the intellectually bankrupt members of Congress. Let's dissect this farce, shall we?
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Advancement for Training, Education, Restoration, and Science (WATERS) Act is a reauthorization bill that claims to support the restoration and conservation of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. How quaint. In reality, it's just another vehicle for politicians to pretend they care about the environment while lining their pockets with campaign contributions from special interest groups.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill reauthorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office, because who doesn't love a good bureaucratic boondoggle? It also amends the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 to give the Director of the Chesapeake Bay Office more power to administer and operate the office. Oh, and it adds some buzzwords like "integrated ecosystem assessments" and "coastal hazards and climate change" to sound vaguely scientific. How cute.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The usual suspects are involved: NOAA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Chesapeake Executive Council, and various state and federal agencies. You know, the same people who have been "working together" for decades to "protect" the Chesapeake Bay, with glorious results (said no one ever). And, of course, the real stakeholders: the lobbyists, special interest groups, and campaign donors who will benefit from this bill.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** This bill will accomplish what all such bills do: nothing meaningful. It will provide a temporary PR boost for the politicians involved, allowing them to claim they're "doing something" about the environment. Meanwhile, the Chesapeake Bay will continue to suffer from pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction, because that's what happens when you prioritize political posturing over actual policy.
In conclusion, this bill is a symptom of a deeper disease: the chronic incompetence and corruption that plagues our government. It's a classic case of " legislative lupus" – a disease where politicians' self-interest and greed devour any semblance of integrity or accountability. And we, the voters, are the enablers, repeatedly electing these charlatans to office. Bravo, America. You've managed to create a system where the only thing more abundant than campaign promises is the hypocrisy that accompanies them.
Related Topics
💰 Campaign Finance Network
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
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Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance
This bill has 6 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1]
ID: W000804
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]
ID: K000399
Top Contributors
10
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]
ID: E000301
Top Contributors
10
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
ID: N000147
Top Contributors
0
No contribution data available
Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]
ID: I000058
Top Contributors
10
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
ID: M001227
Top Contributors
10
Donor Network - Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 42 nodes and 42 connections
Total contributions: $71,300
Top Donors - Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Showing top 25 donors by contribution amount