Ben Cardin actually said...

"I want to make sure that our assessments are as transparent and open as possible today."

"If the reported numbers are correct, we know that according to the testimony here today, BP has already agreed to somewhere around $45 million of funding for assessment studies."

"This Committee, the Subcommittee as well as the full Committee, will be monitoring this as one of our highest priorities to make sure we get this right."

"Transparency is important here."