Increasing Funding for Anacostia River Cleanup

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has just announced that her amendment to the fiscal year 2020 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill to increase funding for the Anacostia Watershed Restoration Program by $5 million passed the House of Representatives on Jun 19, 2019.

Building on Norton’s work to restore the Anacostia River, the funding would help sediment remediation in the Anacostia watershed with the goal of removing toxins from the river bottom and river banks.

“Sediments are an ongoing source of contaminants that must be addressed before the Anacostia River can be returned to a fishable and swimmable river,” Norton said. “I appreciate that the amendment was cosponsored by several regional friends, Representatives Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Anthony Brown (D-MD), and David Trone (D-MD).”

“As one of the prized assets of the District’s ecosystem, we must continue efforts to ensure the Anacostia River is clean enough for residents and visitors to enjoy and for wildlife to thrive,” Norton added.

She concluded by saying that the Army Corps of Engineers will now have more funding to help restore and rehabilitate this vital part of the ecosystem.