WHEREAS, Ann Pesiri Swanson, who worked with state officials in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland to restore the environmental health and sustainability of the Chesapeake Bay watershed for nearly 35 years, retired as the executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission in November 2022; and

WHEREAS, Ann Swanson holds degrees in wildlife biology from the University of Vermont and environmental science from Yale University, and she previously served as board chair of the University of Vermont's School of Natural Resources Advisory Council; and

WHEREAS, after becoming the executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission in 1988, Ann Swanson advised local and state officials in the 64,000-square-mile area of the watershed and advocated for planning and policies to benefit local residents and stakeholders while ensuring the proper conservation of vital natural resources; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure as executive director, Ann Swanson helped create the Bi-State Blue Crab Advisory Committee in 1996, bringing together key stakeholders and scientists to provide expert advice and coordination for the management of the Chesapeake Bay's blue crab fisheries; and

WHEREAS, Ann Swanson provided her unique insights to the development of a comprehensive framework for a watershed-wide ecosystem management strategy to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its living resources as a partner of the Chesapeake Bay Program and a significant contributor to the success of the 2000 Chesapeake Bay Agreement and subsequent Agreements; and

WHEREAS, in 2003 Ann Swanson played a critical role in the establishment of the Chesapeake Bay Funders' Network, which comprises more than 100 philanthropic organizations that foster collaborative opportunities for watershed restoration projects throughout the region; and

WHEREAS, Ann Swanson worked at state and local levels to coordinate management of Chesapeake Bay issues and successfully secured significant federal conservation funds for farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed through the 2007 Federal Farm Bill and subsequent Farm Bills; and

WHEREAS, throughout her career, Ann Swanson collaborated in a bipartisan manner with legislators, nonprofit advocacy organizations, governmental organizations, farmers and farming interests, and other stakeholders in the passage of numerous pieces of  natural resources legislation, significant funding initiatives and the accomplishment of various land conservation initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Ann Swanson has been a trusted mentor and friend to countless fellow conservation professionals; she inspired others through her expertise, personal integrity, and her passion for public service and natural resources; and

WHEREAS, Ann Swanson's strategies for large-scale ecosystem restoration have earned national and international recognition, and the success of the Chesapeake Bay Commission has become a model for other regional partnerships; and

WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Ann Swanson has been honored with the Chesapeake Executive Council Salute to Excellence Award in 1992 and 1999, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Conservationist of the Year award in 2001, the Sierra Club Outstanding Achievement Award in 2004, the University of Vermont Outstanding Alumni of the Year award in 1989 and 2007, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chesapeake Conservancy in 2019; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her other accolades, Ann Swanson was named as an Admiral of the Chesapeake, the highest award for accomplishments in environmental conservation presented by the Governor of Maryland; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ann Pesiri Swanson on the occasion of her retirement as executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ann Pesiri Swanson as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her achievements in the protection and preservation of the Commonwealth's valuable natural resources.