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H.R. 5540: Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act

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H.R. 5540: Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act

110th Congress · introduced 2008-03-05 · Public Lands and Natural Resources · Latest: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 930.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-03-05 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 3 recorded votes in our records. Latest: House roll call 384 (2008): On Agreeing to the Amendment, HR5540 (2008-06-05), Failed. See all
  4. Where it stands now: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 930. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act - Amends the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of 1998 to make permanent the authorization of appropriations for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] · 13 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5540, Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act (2008-05-07); CBO cost estimate: H.R. 5540, Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Continuing Authorization Act (2008-05-07)

Cosponsors on this site

Robert J. Wittman (R-VA), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (3)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Ballot initiative
A proposed law or constitutional amendment that citizens place on the ballot by gathering enough voter signatures, so voters decide it directly. About half the states allow some form of it.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr5540 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110