Each year, members of Congress introduce legislation that, if enacted, may impact NOAA activities and other organizations’ operations in the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office itself was created by Congressional legislation 
in 1992, and was reauthorized in 2002. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Program also was established by Congress in 2002. 
The Congress also passes appropriations bills each year which provide funding for the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office’s activities.
The legislative process is a complicated one. The Library of Congress has two publications that describe this process – “How Our Laws Are Made” and “Enactment of a Law”. Additional information on the legislative process and NOAA’s related activities can be found on the NOAA’s Office of Legislative affairs website.
The following is a list of bills introduced during the 109th Congress that could impact the Chesapeake Bay. To conduct your own search of introduced bills, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ 
.
| Senate and House companion bills: |
| S. 336 | Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Watertrail Study Act of 2005 |
| H.R. 2588 | Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Watertrail Study Act of 2005 |
| S. 480 | Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2005 |
| H.R. 3349 | Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2005 |
| S. 728 | Water Resources Development Act of 2005 |
| H.R. 2864 | Water Resources Development Act of 2005 |
| S. 1472 | Anacostia Watershed Initiative Act of 2005 |
| H.R. 2509 | Anacostia Watershed Initiative Act of 2005 |
| Senate Bills: |
| S. 150 | Clean Power Act of 2005 |
| S. 363 | Ballast Water Management Act of 2005 |
| S. 730 | Mercury Emission Act of 2005 |
| S. 1224 | National Oceans Protection Act of 2005 |
| S. 1490 | Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization and Environmental Accountability Act of 2005 |
| S. 1491 | Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Removal Assistance Act |
| S. 1492 | Chesapeake Bay Environmental Education Pilot Program Act |
| S. 1493 | Chesapeake Bay Watershed Forestry Program Act of 2005 |
| S. 1494 | NOAA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Monitoring, Education, Training, and Restoration Act |
| House Bills: |
| H.R. 227 | Acid Rain Control Act |
| H.R. 2361 | Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006 |
| H.R. 2419 | Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2006 |
| H.R. 2939 | Oceans Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act |