{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-celebrates-74-million-federal-funds-chesapeake-bay-conservation", "Scott Celebrates $7.4 Million In Federal Funds for Chesapeake Bay Conservation Efforts", "2023-11-21", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Robert C. \"Bobby\" Scott", "S000185", "bobbyscott.house.gov", "bobbyscott", "https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWPORT NEWS \u2013 Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), a co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, celebrated the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announcing $7.4 million for projects supporting conservation efforts throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The funding, which includes more than $4 million for projects in Virginia, was made possible by the Chesapeake Watershed Investments in Landscape Defense (WILD) Act which Congressman Scott introduced in 2019 and was signed into law in 2020.\n\n\u201cThe Chesapeake Bay is one of America's greatest treasures and restoring the watershed is vitally important,\u201d said Congressman Scott. \u201cI was proud to see the Chesapeake WILD Act signed into law to fund projects, like these, that will reduce pollution, improve water quality, boost recreation opportunities and improve the long-term health of the Bay.\u201d\n\nThe list of funded projects in Virginia includes:\n\nFriends of the Rappahannock (Rappahannock River Watershed): Building Collaborative Capacity for Conservation and Public Access in the Rappahannock River - $60,996\n\nRappahannock Tribe of Virginia (Richmond County): Reacquiring Ancestral Lands on the Rappahannock River to Restore Aquatic and Terrestrial Habitats - $750,000\n\nValley Conservation Council, Inc (Shenandoah Valley): Permanently Protecting Wildlife Corridors in the Shenandoah Valley - $749,544\n\nJames River Association (James River Watershed): Restoring Freshwater Mussel Communities and Riparian Buffers to Enhance the James River Watershed - $748,519\n\nRappahannock Tribe of Virginia (State-Wide): Establishing an Indigenous Conservation Council for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed - $183,000\n\nThe Elizabeth River Project (Elizabeth River Watershed): Creating a Model for Urban Habitat Restoration within the Elizabeth River Watershed (VA) - $650,000\n\nFriends of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (Suffolk, VA): Collaborating with Partners to Conserve and Improve Public Access to the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge - $582,239\n\nFour Mile Run Conservatory Foundation (Arlington and Alexandria, VA): Improving Aquatic Recreation Access and Opportunities at Four Mile Run Park - $75,000\n\nNorthern Virginia Regional Commission (Prince William County): Introducing a Companion Mussel Species to Serve as a Biomarker for Future Brook Floater Survivability - $75,000\n\nCriminal Injustice Reform Network (Hampton and Newport News, VA): Piloting an Engagement-Based Approach in Underserved Communities to Protect and Restore Tidal Marshes and Blue Crab Populations - $74,991\n\nSmithsonian Institution (Fauquier County): Developing Best Management Practices for Enhanced Landowner Participation in Eastern Box Turtle Conservation - $74,997", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-celebrates-74-million-federal-funds-chesapeake-bay-conservation"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8024109993129969, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}