To establish the Chesapeake National Recreation Area as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
Passed SenateMr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Mr. Van Hollen (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Warner, and …
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill creates the Chesapeake National Recreation Area, a new unit of the National Park System spanning Maryland and Virginia. The Recreation Area will preserve and provide public access to the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay region. It also enhances the existing Chesapeake Bay Gateways program and establishes an advisory commission to guide management.
Who Benefits and How
Tourism and recreation businesses in the Chesapeake Bay region benefit from increased visitor traffic and federal investment in recreational infrastructure. Local communities benefit from sustainable tourism development and improved public access to the Bay. The National Park Service gains authority and appropriations to coordinate conservation efforts across the Bay watershed. Underserved communities are specifically targeted for improved access to recreational opportunities.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Federal taxpayers bear costs for land acquisition, facility development, and ongoing management. The bill requires 1-to-1 matching funds from non-federal sources for cooperative agreements. Property owners in the region may face land acquisition offers, though condemnation is prohibited without consent. State and local governments must coordinate with federal management plans.
Key Provisions
- Establishes Chesapeake National Recreation Area as unit of National Park System
- Increases Chesapeake Gateways program authorization from $3 million to $6 million annually
- Creates 19-member Advisory Commission with representation from Maryland, Virginia, and DC
- Requires management plan within 3 years with transportation planning to minimize community traffic impacts
- Allows land acquisition by donation, purchase, exchange, or federal transfer (no condemnation without consent)
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
Establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area in Maryland and Virginia as a unit of the National Park System to preserve, protect, and provide public access to the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding areas.
Policy Domains
Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act
Likely Beneficiaries
- Tourism and recreation industry
- Local communities near Chesapeake Bay
- Environmental conservation groups
- Underserved communities lacking Bay access
- National Park Service
Inferred from context, no direct clause evidence
Likely Burden Bearers
- Federal taxpayers
- Property owners in designated areas
- State and local governments
Inferred from context, no direct clause evidence
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of the Interior
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
A member of the Advisory Commission who has not attained the age of 22 and represents interests of children and young adults
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology