House recognizes Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week through Hill-Evans resolution
Rep. Carol Hill-Evans June 10, 2026 | 4:05 PM
HARRISBURG, June 10– Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to recognize “Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week” in Pennsylvania, through a resolution introduced by State Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, D-York, who serves on the Chesapeake Bay Commission.
House Resolution 508 designates June 7 through the 13, 2026, as “Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week” throughout the commonwealth, in recognition of the bay’s importance to the environment, economy, and overall public health.
As the largest and most productive estuary in the United States, the Chesapeake Bay boasts a 64,000-square-mile watershed that encompasses six states, District of Columbia, and covers nearly half of Pennsylvania.
“The Susquehanna River, which supplies 50% of the bay’s fresh water, underscores Pennsylvania’s pivotal role in safeguarding water quality for the entire region,” said Hill-Evans, chair of the House State Government Committee. “When we invest in improving Pennsylvania’s waterways, we strengthen the overall health of the bay and ensure its vitality for the future.”
According to Hill-Evans, the Chesapeake Bay's tributaries in Pennsylvania are an important source of drinking water and recreational fishing and boating. In addition, its watershed is a vital natural resource, supporting some of the nation's most productive farm and forest lands.
“The Chesapeake Bay area is home to more than 18 million people,” many of whom rely upon the bay for their livelihood and recreational activities, including more than 500 million pounds of seafood harvest each year,” Hill-Evans said.
Hill-Evans said that the bill was designed to increase awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to Pennsylvania, the region, and the United States as a whole.