Ben Cardin actually said...

"I find it somewhat offensive to the Chesapeake Bay and the State I represent for us to be considered less worthy for protection than the West Coast of the United States or the north Atlantic."

"I can tell you the way that currents run off the mid-Atlantic, the way the wind blows, any oil spill will affect the Chesapeake Bay."

"The purpose of this hearing was for us to gather information, to get better informed, and to start a record in this Committee as to the challenges we have."

"I think this is critical to trying to understand the espionage laws."