Foundations
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from U.S. foundations.
Featured Stories
Prevent Cancer Foundation: Is Hookah Worse Than Cigarettes?
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Nov. 20 -- The Prevent Cancer Foundation issued the following news:
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Hookah culture and its misconceptions
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Hookah lounges may seem like a harmless social activity--but what looks like a unique and relaxing atmosphere on the outside can lead to significant health problems down the road.
Hookah lounges have grown popular in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.6 million U.S. adults used hookah, water pipes or pipes in 2017. But while many believe hookah is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it is not a safe alternative.
To
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Nov. 20 -- The Prevent Cancer Foundation issued the following news:
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Hookah culture and its misconceptions
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Hookah lounges may seem like a harmless social activity--but what looks like a unique and relaxing atmosphere on the outside can lead to significant health problems down the road.
Hookah lounges have grown popular in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.6 million U.S. adults used hookah, water pipes or pipes in 2017. But while many believe hookah is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it is not a safe alternative.
Tocomplicate matters, hookah is a tradition and social custom in many Middle Eastern cultures. It's so engrained in culture--hookah can sometimes be smoked at religious ceremonies or weddings--that it can be hard to avoid. But the health effects of hookah are severe enough to exercise caution.
The hookah industry is also growing in the U.S., with hookah bars, lounges and cafes popping up in college town and urban areas.
Not only is hookah popular, but there are widely-held misconceptions about the safety of it. In fact, 32% of young adults believe that hookah is less harmful than cigarettes./1
With growing popularity and a lack of knowledge about its negative effects, it's time we clear the air about this trend.
What is hookah?
A hookah is a water pipe that heats and vaporizes tobacco (or cannabis or hashish). It's believed to have originated in either India or the Middle East, and today there are people all around the world who smoke tobacco from a hookah. Globally, about 100 million people smoke hookah every day!/2
Sometimes, the tobacco in a hookah is combined with honey, sugarcane, dried fruits, spices or flavors, giving it a sweet smell. Groups often smoke communally in hookah bars and cafes or at home.
Why do people think hookah is safe?
Historically, it was thought that the smoke from a hookah gets purified when it passes through the water--and this is a misconception that remains today. To be clear, it is not possible for water to filter out the harmful ingredients in smoke.
Is hookah worse than cigarettes?
When smoking hookah, compared to smoking one cigarette, users inhale much more nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. In addition, the charcoal in hookah contains heavy metals and hydrocarbons. All of these substances are carcinogenic, or have the potential to cause cancer. In fact, research shows at least 82 different types of toxic chemicals and carcinogens are found in hookah smoke. Smoking hookah leads to an increased risk of lung, bladder and oral cancers.
In one hour of smoking hookah, users inhale 100-200 times more smoke than they would inhale from a cigarette./3 Even if you go to a hookah bar and don't smoke, there are risks from inhaling smoke secondhand.
There are tobacco-free and herbal shisha blends for hookah, but since the water pipe itself includes charcoal, you would still be inhaling carcinogens.
If I smoke or have smoked hookah, do I need to be screened for cancer?
Current lung cancer screening eligibility criteria do not include guidelines for people who smoke hookah, as there is not sufficient research looking at lung cancer risk factors beyond cigarette smoking. As more research is done, it's possible that future recommendations for lung cancer screening will include risk factors other than smoking cigarettes, such as smoking hookah, cigars or e-cigarettes.
That said--and as stated above--research does show that smoking hookah exposes you to large numbers of carcinogens and can lead to cancer. Until we know more, it is safest to abstain from smoking hookah.
Tobacco use is also one of the leading risk factors for oral cancer. The good news is you may already be getting checked for oral cancer without even realizing it. Your dentist may be able to detect some oral precancers and cancers early--visit your dentist every six months and ask for an oral cancer exam.
While hookah has cultural significance, it isn't a safer alternative to cigarettes. If you need help quitting smoking, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
1/https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/traditional-tobacco-products/whats-harm-hookah-how-risk-misperceptions-relate
2/https://www.britannica.com/topic/hookah
3/https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/tobacco_industry/hookahs/index.htm#:~:text=Hookah%20tobacco%20and%20smoke%20contain,%2C%20bladder%2C%20and%20oral%20cancers.&text=Tobacco%20juices%20from%20hookahs%20irritate,risk%20of%20developing%20oral%20cancers.
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Original text here: https://preventcancer.org/article/hookah-worse-cigarettes/
Indigenous Prosperity Foundation and the Mastercard Foundation Partner to Accelerate Indigenous Entrepreneurship
TORONTO, Ontario, Nov. 20 -- The Mastercard Foundation issued the following news release:
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This Transformative Model to Provide More than 2,000 Young Indigenous Business Owners with Holistic Supports
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Ottawa, Ontario: The Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) and the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) are proud to announce a landmark partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. This transformative collaboration will support more than 2,000 young Indigenous business owners and advance efforts to resource and empower Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities
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TORONTO, Ontario, Nov. 20 -- The Mastercard Foundation issued the following news release:
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This Transformative Model to Provide More than 2,000 Young Indigenous Business Owners with Holistic Supports
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Ottawa, Ontario: The Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) and the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) are proud to announce a landmark partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. This transformative collaboration will support more than 2,000 young Indigenous business owners and advance efforts to resource and empower Indigenous entrepreneurs and communitiesacross Canada.
The partnership, supported by an investment of $17.6 million over five years, will equip Indigenous young people with the tools and resources to build sustainable businesses and contribute meaningfully to their communities. As Canada's fastest-growing population, Indigenous youth are key to the country's future prosperity. The Mastercard Foundation's commitment, through the EleV Program, reflects a deep recognition of the vital role Indigenous young people play in shaping our shared future.
"We're proud to embark on this new partnership with the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation and NACCA," said Jennifer Brennan, Senior Director, Canada Programs at the Mastercard Foundation. "We work with partners who are creating pathways to meaningful livelihoods for Indigenous youth. The IPF will contribute to a future where young Indigenous people have unlimited opportunities to unlock their entrepreneurial potential and contribute meaningfully to their communities and the country as a whole. When Indigenous youth succeed, we all succeed."
This collaboration aims to create a dynamic ecosystem for Indigenous entrepreneurs. The partnership will provide skills training, micro-grants, ongoing mentorship, and other essential support to help Indigenous youth reach their goals and aspirations.
"We aim to transform education and employment systems to support Indigenous youth to thrive and prosper," Brennan added. "We are committed to working together in co-creation and are truly honoured to be part of this journey."
Bobbie Racette, Chair of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, emphasized the impact the partnership will have on advancing access to the tools and resources Indigenous young people need to build businesses. "The partnership with the Mastercard Foundation will significantly enhance our efforts to build a thriving and inclusive Indigenous economy. Our goal is to break
down barriers and implement innovative approaches that support Indigenous young people. This collaboration is pivotal in helping us achieve this vision."
Racette also reflected on her personal journey: "As someone who struggled to find support and opportunities, I understand the importance of having a foundation like IPF. This partnership will ensure that Indigenous youth have the support and resources they need to succeed."
An early announcement was made at the NACCA Indigenous Prosperity Forum in Gatineau, Quebec, where key stakeholders from industry, government, and the non-profit sector gathered to discuss the future of Indigenous economic empowerment. Today marks the official announcement, highlighting the critical importance of Indigenous-led initiatives in driving meaningful change across Canada.
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About the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation
The Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) is a charitable organization established by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) and Indigenous Financial Institutions across Canada. IPF's mission centres on fostering success and empowerment among underserved Indigenous women, youth, and early-stage entrepreneurs across Canada by providing training, mentorship, access to technology, Internet and seed grants to ensure accessibility and equity while building capacity within the Indigenous economic development ecosystem. Add website.
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About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation's Board of Directors and leadership.
Learn More about the EleV program (https://mastercardfdn.org/elev/)
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Original text here: https://mastercardfdn.org/strategy/indigenous-prosperity-foundation-and-the-mastercard-foundation-partner-to-accelerate-indigenous-entrepreneurship/
Conservation Law Foundation: Flawed Climate Report Puts Groups' Interests First
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 20 (TNSres) -- The Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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New England's environment, residents benefit from clean energy, not dirty fossil fuels
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Massachusetts is on the verge of enacting a new law that will improve the environment and lives of people living and working in the Bay State by curbing dirty fossil fuel pollution and encouraging more clean energy. But a group of right-wing, anti-clean energy organizations have released a flawed report meant to scare families and businesses away from solutions that would cut carbon pollution
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 20 (TNSres) -- The Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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New England's environment, residents benefit from clean energy, not dirty fossil fuels
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Massachusetts is on the verge of enacting a new law that will improve the environment and lives of people living and working in the Bay State by curbing dirty fossil fuel pollution and encouraging more clean energy. But a group of right-wing, anti-clean energy organizations have released a flawed report meant to scare families and businesses away from solutions that would cut carbon pollutionand keep New Englanders tied down to polluting fuels.
"Groups like the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance are part of a well-funded network working to block the upgrade to clean energy," said Caitlin Peale Sloan, Vice President of Conservation Law Foundation Massachusetts. "These groups, almost all of which are influenced by fossil fuel interests, are using their resources to protect the profits of polluting industries at the expense of our climate, public health, and future. Their fear-mongering, lies, and scare tactics don't just mislead us--they put our families and communities at risk. The reality is we all deserve access to more affordable energy, cleaner air, and a healthier future. These organizations are recycling a tired refrain we've heard every time New England takes bold steps toward 100 percent clean energy. It's time to stop letting corporate interests try to bully us out of what's best for our wallets, health, and future."
The coalition falsely claims that clean energy efforts would cost families and businesses more money than fossil fuels - disproven time and time again. Most recently, Synapse Energy Economics Inc. released a report in which they find that offshore wind is far cheaper than natural gas. For example, the Synapse report found that nine gigawatts of wind energy by 2030 would, on average, save New Englanders $630 million on electricity bills annually. It would also keep $1.57 billion within the region's economy that we would have otherwise lost buying and importing natural gas from other regions or other countries.
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REPORT: https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/Synapse Offshore Wind Benefits in New England 20240603.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/flawed-climate-report-puts-groups-interests-first/
Impaired Caregivers, Bed Sharing Raise Risk of Sudden Unexplained Infant Death in Infants Born with Prenatal Drug Exposure
JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Nov. 19 -- Nemours Foundation issued the following news release:
WILMINGTON, Del. (November 19, 2024) Babies who are prenatally exposed to illicit drugs or alcohol are known to be at higher risk for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). A new study by a Nemours Children's Health researcher published in Pediatrics, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, showed that caregivers of prenatally exposed infants were twice as likely to be impaired at the time of death.
"As the drug epidemic continues in the United States, about 8% of births are affected by prenatal exposure
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JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Nov. 19 -- Nemours Foundation issued the following news release:
WILMINGTON, Del. (November 19, 2024) Babies who are prenatally exposed to illicit drugs or alcohol are known to be at higher risk for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). A new study by a Nemours Children's Health researcher published in Pediatrics, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, showed that caregivers of prenatally exposed infants were twice as likely to be impaired at the time of death.
"As the drug epidemic continues in the United States, about 8% of births are affected by prenatal exposureto illicit drugs," explained lead author Stephanie A. Deutsch, MD, MS, Director of the Nemours CARE (Children at Risk Evaluation) Program at Nemours Children's Health, Delaware Valley. "These infants face challenges from the beginning, including a higher risk of sudden unexplained death."
The term SUID encompasses sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and certain other accidental causes of death. Deutsch, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, said previous research has suggested that the higher rates of SUID in prenatally exposed infants may stem from bed sharing, or from poor decision-making in a caregiver who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She and colleagues wanted to further understand the risk factors affecting prenatally exposed infants, hoping to educate caregivers about ways to reduce fatalities.
In this study, Deutsch and colleagues examined de-identified data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's SUID and Sudden Death in the Young case registry. They studied reports on 2,010 infants who had died unexpectedly between 2015 and 2020, categorizing the deaths according to prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol. Data was based on parental reporting and on maternal and neonatal laboratory test results at time of birth.
The researchers also identified the caregivers at the time of death and characterized the sleep setting, for example, bed vs. crib; alone or with a caregiver.
Key findings:
Of the 2,010 infants in the study, 14% had been born with prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol.
Among babies who were born prenatally exposed, 34% of caregivers were impaired when the infant died, compared with 16% of the caregivers of nonexposed infants. Among the caregivers who were impaired, 75% of them were also bed sharing.
52% of sudden unexplained infant deaths took place in adult beds.
In 53% of the deaths, the baby was sharing the bed with an adult. In 16% of the cases, the baby was sharing with another child.
50% of caregivers were asleep, and 19% were impaired at the time of infant death.
However, among babies who were born prenatally exposed, 71% of caregivers were asleep at the time of death, compared with 46% of the caregivers of babies who were not prenatally exposed.
Overall, 1 in 4 deaths of prenatally exposed infants involved caregivers who were both impaired and bed sharing.
Deutsch said this study indicates that immediate, targeted efforts to prevent SUID in infants who were prenatally exposed to drugs are needed. Such efforts should not stigmatize the caregivers, she cautioned.
"Pediatricians and primary care providers should deliver clear messages to the parents, family members and other caregivers of babies who were prenatally exposed," she said. "These messages should be culturally relevant, sensitive and easily understandable."
Most urgently, Deutsch said, caregivers should be discouraged from bed-sharing and from using substances while taking care of children. Additionally, babies should have their own space for sleeping, rather than sharing with a sibling or another child.
Expectant mothers with substance use disorders should be informed of drug treatment resources. Deutsch also suggested that if possible, caregivers should ask a nonimpaired person to provide support and assume primary responsibility for infants if they struggle to maintain sobriety.
Additionally, public health nurses, social workers and home visitor programs could help ensure safe sleeping practices and provide helpful resources to vulnerable families.
Finally, Deutsch said health care professionals should help make sure that caregivers have access to safe sleep spaces. Community-based or government crib distribution programs are available for those in need, she added.
Deutsch noted that the study definition of "impairment" may include causes beyond substance-related impairment. However, the disproportionate rates of impairment in caregivers of prenatally exposed infants suggest a unique vulnerability that merits further study.
She also cautioned that families with prenatally exposed infants often face multiple social adversities. Efforts to improve overall health and socioeconomic status for these families may also help reduce the risk of SUID, she said.
About Nemours Children's Health
Nemours Children's Health is one of the nation's largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two freestanding children's hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also addressing children's needs well beyond medicine. In producing the highly acclaimed, award-winning pediatric medicine podcast Well Beyond Medicine, Nemours underscores that commitment by featuring the people, programs and partnerships addressing whole child health. Nemours Children's also powers the world's most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.
The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.
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Original text here: https://nemours.mediaroom.com/DeutschSUID
Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation Elects Officers, Welcomes New Trustees, and Presents Research Award During Annual Meeting
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation issued the following news release:
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (Foundation) announces the 2025 officers of its Board of Trustees (Board). Board Officers serving are Zack Marsh, CLFP, SVP, Accounting and Analysis, AP Equipment Financing as Chair; Miles Herman, CEO, LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. as Vice Chair; Peter Bullen, EVP & Group Head, Key Equipment Finance as Secretary/Treasurer; and Leigh Lytle, President and CEO, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) as President. Nancy Pistorio, CLFP, President,
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation issued the following news release:
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (Foundation) announces the 2025 officers of its Board of Trustees (Board). Board Officers serving are Zack Marsh, CLFP, SVP, Accounting and Analysis, AP Equipment Financing as Chair; Miles Herman, CEO, LEAF Commercial Capital, Inc. as Vice Chair; Peter Bullen, EVP & Group Head, Key Equipment Finance as Secretary/Treasurer; and Leigh Lytle, President and CEO, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) as President. Nancy Pistorio, CLFP, President,Madison Capital LLC is Immediate Past Chair. The officer elections were held during the Board's annual meeting.
New members appointed to the Foundation Board of Trustees include Eric McGriff, Chief Risk Officer, 36th Street Capital, and Shari Williams, Chief Risk Officer, SLR Equipment Finance.
"We are privileged to have the leadership experience, professional expertise and commitment of our Trustees to guide the Foundation in 2025," said Zack Marsh. "We're grateful for their dedication to the Foundation's mission to advance the equipment finance industry and the success of everyone in it."
Trustees continuing on the Board for 2025 are:
Andrew Blacklock, Vice President, Strategy and Business Operations, Cisco Systems Capital CorporationJim DeFrank, EVP and Chief Operating Officer, Isuzu Finance of America, Inc.Jeffrey Dicosola, Sales Manager, Great American Insurance GroupCindy Fleck, CLFP, Senior Vice President and General Manager Equipment Finance, ChannelMartin Klotzman, CLFP, Director of Marketing and Operations, Ivory Consulting CorporationShari Lipski, CLFP, Principal, ECS Financial Services, Inc.Mark Loken, Vice President, CoBank Farm Credit LeasingDavid Normandin, CLFP, President and CEO, Wintrust Specialty FinanceBrittany Ogden, Attorney, Partner, Quarles & Brady LLPRicardo E. Rios, CFA, CLFP, President & COO, Commercial Equipment Finance, Inc. (CEFI)William Tefft, Equipment Manager Corporate Asset Finance, EverBank Corporate Asset FinanceDonna Yanuzzi, EVP, 1st Equipment Finance, Inc.
Kelli Nienaber will continue to serve as Executive Director.
Steven R. LeBarron Award Research Committee Chair Valerie Gerard honored Board Trustee Will Tefft with the Steven R. LeBarron Award for Principled Research. He has been a member of the Foundation Research Committee (FRC) and a Foundation Trustee since 2020. In that time, he has been the lead in developing the Foundation's Vertical Market Outlook Series of reports and the associated vertical podcast series. He has been instrumental in the development of podcast episodes covering trucking, IT equipment, additive manufacturing, and corporate aircraft, among other topics. This award is presented annually in memory of Steven LeBarron to the FRC member who demonstrates the insight, fortitude, and dedication he exemplified.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeaseFoundation LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10989281/ Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/elffchannel
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that propels the equipment finance sector--and its people--forward through industry-specific knowledge, intelligence, and student talent development programs that contribute to industry innovation, individual careers, and the advancement of the equipment leasing and finance industry. The Foundation is funded through charitable individual and corporate donations. Learn more at http://www.leasefoundation.org.
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Original text here: https://www.leasefoundation.org/news_item/equipment-leasing-finance-foundation-elects-officers-welcomes-new-trustees-and-presents-research-award-during-annual-meeting-4/
Conservation Law Foundation: PURA Denies Connecticut Gas Rate Hike
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 19 -- The Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Decision requires gas companies to report their emissions and explain how they are contributing to state climate goals
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(New Haven, CT) - Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) issued a final decision denying proposed rate increases by Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas and requiring the companies to collectively return $120 million dollars to their customers. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response.
"This
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 19 -- The Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Decision requires gas companies to report their emissions and explain how they are contributing to state climate goals
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(New Haven, CT) - Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) issued a final decision denying proposed rate increases by Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas and requiring the companies to collectively return $120 million dollars to their customers. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) released the following statement in response.
"Thisdecision is a victory for gas customers, many of whom already struggle to pay high heating costs. The decision also means customers won't have to pay for the gas companies' flawed clean energy proposals, which would not meaningfully reduce climate pollution," said Shannon Laun, Vice President of Conservation Law Foundation Connecticut. "Going forward, the companies must report their emissions and explain how they are reducing carbon pollution in line with state climate law. As a next step, PURA should follow other states that are developing frameworks to end people's reliance on polluting gas and transition to clean heating."
Many homes and businesses rely on gas heating in Connecticut despite the fuel being a major source of climate-warming pollution. Fossil fuel heating accounts for over 30 percent of Connecticut's climate pollution.
Unfortunately, the gas companies are not planning for a future in which gas use decreases in line with the state's climate law, which says Connecticut must cut carbon pollution by at least 45 percent by 2030 and at least 80 percent by 2050.
The companies continue to sink hundreds of millions of dollars into new gas pipelines, even though state policy is driving a shift towards electric heating, which will shrink the gas customer base in coming years. As more gas customers move to electric heating, remaining gas customers will face the ever-mounting costs of maintaining an oversized gas system. And the last gas customers are likely to be low-income households and renters who can least afford rising bills.
Other states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island, are proactively planning for this transition. As PURA acknowledged in its decision, state agencies, clean energy advocates, and the gas companies recognize the need for a similar plan in Connecticut.
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/pura-denies-connecticut-gas-rate-hike/
Chesapeake National Recreation Area Takes Critical Step Forward
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Nov. 19 -- The Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued the following news release:
Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously voted the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (S.2620) out of committee. Introduced in July 2023 by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the legislation would create a Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The CNRA would designate a collection of new and existing parks and protected lands along the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal waters in Maryland and Virginia as part of the National Park System.
For decades, legislators and
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ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, Nov. 19 -- The Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued the following news release:
Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously voted the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act (S.2620) out of committee. Introduced in July 2023 by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the legislation would create a Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The CNRA would designate a collection of new and existing parks and protected lands along the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal waters in Maryland and Virginia as part of the National Park System.
For decades, legislators andadvocates have discussed efforts to recognize America's largest estuary with a national designation. The creation of the CNRA would be a historic step to celebrate and protect this national treasure. It also would help introduce future generations to the Chesapeake Bay by increasing public access and strengthening the culture of stewardship across the region.
In response, leaders from Chesapeake Conservancy, Choose Clean Water Coalition, National Parks Conservation Association, and Chesapeake Bay Foundation issued the following statements:
Chesapeake Conservancy President & CEO Joel Dunn said:
"Thanks to Senator Van Hollen's leadership, this is a great day for the Chesapeake Bay, with another step forward in the four-decade effort to establish National Park Service recognition for the nation's largest estuary. The Chesapeake Bay is as spectacular as Yellowstone or Yosemite, as great as the Great Smokies and as grand as the Grand Tetons. Establishing the Chesapeake National Recreation Area expands resources for environmental protection and makes it clear that the United States cherishes the Chesapeake, the birthplace of American identity. As a great gift to future generations, this legislation ensures public access to our nation's largest estuary while providing for the needs of those who live here and depend on the bay for their livelihood."
Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly said:
"Our National Park System plays an invaluable role in helping the public access and enjoy our most precious natural resources. As the epicenter of so much history, culture, and economic growth, it's high time for the Chesapeake Bay to receive a national designation.
"This recognition will enhance and expand public access to the Bay, helping introduce this national treasure to future generations. We're grateful for Senator Chris Van Hollen's leadership on the creation of a Chesapeake National Recreation Area and look forward to working with all members of the Chesapeake Bay watershed's congressional delegation to pass this legislation."
National Parks Conservation Association President and CEO Theresa Pierno said:
"The natural beauty and significant history of the Chesapeake Bay should be protected for all to know, and for many more visitors to explore. The watershed has sustained Tribal nations for centuries, is home to thousands of plant and animal species, and is rooted in some of our most consequential American history.
"The Chesapeake National Recreation Area will better connect green spaces and waterways, improve access and help build a more sustainable future for those that live, work and adventure in the Bay. We are grateful to Senator Van Hollen for his leadership in spearheading this legislation, which is now moving us one step closer to becoming our next national park site."
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Federal Policy Coordinator Annabelle Harvey said:
"The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure worthy of national recognition. Its natural wonders, unique maritime culture and thousands of years of fascinating history deserve the additional resources, attention, and access a national recreation area designation would bring.
"The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is pleased to see the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee acknowledge that by approving Sen. Van Hollen's Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act. We thank the committee for moving this important bill forward and urge congressional leaders to act quickly to complete work on it."
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Original text here: http://www.cbf.org/news-media/newsroom/2024/federal/chesapeake-national-recreation-area-takes-critical-step-forward.html
