ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The spring snowstorm didn't stop Chesapeake Bay advocates from making their way to the nation's capital this week, where they warned members of Congress that many of the bay-restoration programs will be placed on ice if they don't get full funding.

It's the second year the Trump administration has proposed cutting federal funds for the Chesapeake Bay Program, a regional partnership between states to help restore the bay. This year's proposal would have cut the $73 million budget by 90 percent.

But Chanté Coleman, director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition, says her group of about 200 members stormed Capitol Hill with success stories about the progress of the bay cleanup efforts – and it worked.

"So, we were able to get the funding back by going and meeting with our members of Congress in all of our watershed states,” says Coleman. “So that's Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and the District of Columbia."

The $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill working its way through Congress overrides the Trump administration's proposed cuts in the current fiscal year, and would maintain the Chesapeake Bay Program funding at last year's level.

Coleman says there is broad bipartisan support for the Chesapeake Bay, and lawmakers simply want proof that cleanup efforts are working – proof she says coalition members were ready to provide.

"We've seen submerged aquatic vegetation come back, and these are the grasses that are home to snails and seahorses, and blue crabs,” she says. “We talk about that progress. We talk about the importance of local water quality and community health."

That funding, she adds, goes directly to the projects yielding those positive results.

Congressional leaders are racing to approve the federal funding bill today, to avoid another shutdown when government spending authority expires.

The Choose Clean Water Coalition includes some 230 local, state and regional national groups advocating for clean rivers and streams in the Chesapeake region.


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As North Carolina communities continue to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Helene, they have faced a new obstacle: A surge of misinformation is slowing down crucial relief efforts and leaving residents uncertain about where to turn.

David Kieve, president of EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, said the misleading claims are creating confusion, adding another layer of difficulty to an already challenging recovery.

"They're having a really hard time doing it, because of lies that Donald Trump and others are spreading about where relief efforts are focused," Kieve asserted. "I'm sure you saw, but FEMA had to pause their relief work because they were worried that their workers would be subject to attack from militias."

The misinformation has caused widespread anxiety, particularly over claims FEMA's $750 emergency checks, intended to help with immediate food and shelter needs, would make recipients ineligible for future aid. Despite being proven false, Kieve observed the rumor has discouraged some families from seeking essential support.

The challenge is not limited to North Carolina. Kieve pointed out similar issues in other states, where false information about disaster relief and clean energy policy could threaten future economic growth in some communities.

He stressed moving away from clean energy policies would have stark consequences, especially in states like North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

"If we were to move in the opposite direction and take a step back from the successful clean energy policies that we've advanced over the past couple of years, that would cost both states jobs," Kieve contended. "It would cause both states' economies to go in the wrong direction and it would cost families higher energy bills."

Kieve encouraged people to look closely at the facts, to question which candidates are being truthful and to recognize the potential for things like job growth from clean energy. He noted communities already benefiting from the investments are seeing positive changes, from new factories to improved public health.


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With Election Day near, the League of Conservation Voters is pushing for Michigan legislation to protect democracy, air, land and waterways across the Great Lakes State.

League members said the election carries high stakes for Michigan, particularly in the House and Supreme Court races. In addition to backing the Clean Energy and Jobs Act, the League is focused on a critical policy they believe is at risk, Michigan's septic legislation.

Nick Occhipinti, director of state government affairs for the league, pointed out Michigan remains the only state without a program to oversee septic systems.

"In certain cases we have septic systems failing or connected directly to drains and creeks," Occhipinti explained. "Every time you flush the toilet, for those illicitly connected septic systems, you know you have human waste going directly into Michigan surface water bodies."

The League of Conservation Voters' annual National Environmental Scorecard rated members of Congress on their votes related to the environment, helping hold them accountable and informing voters about their stance on conservation and climate policies.

Occhipinti reminded voters not to overlook crucial down-ballot issues like the Supreme Court and State House races, which often fly under the radar. He encouraged everyone to follow their ballot all the way to the end, remembering to flip it over.

"A lot of folks don't often recognize those running for state Supreme Court. They don't recognize their names," Occhipinti observed. "You gotta get out there and learn who's running, do the research, find out what their values are and do your best to learn about what the candidates stand for."

Michigan's Democratic-led legislature recently passed laws on environmental policies, making down-ballot races vital for either supporting or opposing the changes.

Advocates of electric vehicles are countering what they call misleading claims about the effects of EV production in Michigan.

Critics of electric vehicles argued prioritizing EV production could harm traditional auto manufacturing jobs, and said the focus should be on safeguarding such roles and strengthening U.S. control within the auto industry.

David Kieve, president of EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, said EV policies have already generated billions in investments and promise to create more high-paying jobs in Michigan.

"I think one of the things that we've been particularly focused on is the GM Lansing Grand River Plant," Kieve pointed out. "These aren't jobs that might come at some point in the future, these are current jobs that are here right now."

Opponents of the electric vehicle trend also warn more EV projects risk making the Great Lakes State reliant on foreign investments tied to China, raising economic and security issues.

Kieve emphasized Michigan, known for "putting the world on wheels," should not view EV production as a lost cause because China has a head start. He called that view "defeatist," among other things.

"It sells short Michigan autoworkers' ability to compete against the rest of the world, including against China," Kieve argued.

He also noted traditional vehicle pollution affects lower-income and minority communities the most, giving them the most to gain from EVs, in terms of cleaner air and reduced health and vehicle maintenance costs. Michigan has about 43,000 registered EVs on the road, fewer than the 60,000 originally projected by this time by state officials.