Congress Reauthorizes National Estuary Program May 2016 President Obama signed into law the first reauthorization of the National Estuary Program (NEP) since it expired in 2010, supporting the community-based conservation efforts of Tampa Bay and the 27 other estuaries that are part of the NEP family. The new law authorizes spending up to $26.5 million per year nationwide for the next five years. This is good news for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and our sister Florida programs in Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and the Indian River Lagoon. Many thanks to House Co-sponsors Kathy Castor and David Jolly and to Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio for their continued strong support of TBEP. The NEP was first established in 1987 to protect and restore estuarine habitats threatened by pollution and overdevelopment. The new law authorizes the NEP at $26.5 million per year from Fiscal Years 2017 through 2021. "This is an important step because it reinforces the Congressional commitment to support this program, for at least the next five years," said Holly Greening, TBEP’s executive director.
Congress Reauthorizes National Estuary Program May 2016 President Obama signed into law the first reauthorization of the National Estuary Program (NEP) since it expired in 2010, supporting the community-based conservation efforts of Tampa Bay and the 27 other estuaries that are part of the NEP family. The new law authorizes spending up to $26.5 million per year nationwide for the next five years. This is good news for the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and our sister Florida programs in Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and the Indian River Lagoon. Many thanks to House Co-sponsors Kathy Castor and David Jolly and to Senators Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio for their continued strong support of TBEP. The NEP was first established in 1987 to protect and restore estuarine habitats threatened by pollution and overdevelopment. The new law authorizes the NEP at $26.5 million per year from Fiscal Years 2017 through 2021. "This is an important step because it reinforces the Congressional commitment to support this program, for at least the next five years," said Holly Greening, TBEP’s executive director.
Congress-Reauthorizes-National-Estuary-Program.docx