Ben Cardin

I just think that President Obama is committed to a rebalance to Asia.

Trade is critically important to America's strategic interests and economic interests.

I would like to have some hope of an answer here.

There is also a concern, as we rebalance to Asia, that the total size of the foreign development assistance in that area is relatively small compared to the other regions.

I must tell you there are some who are pretty critical, saying that our aid policies were established for a developing world in Asia that has turned into an emerging world where you have economies that are getting more sophisticated and…

I hope there is more than just freedom of association requirements.

I would just urge us to be as clear as we can in the enforcement provisions in TPP.

The challenge I find with laws in countries that are ruled by a Communist Party is that you do not normally find the Communist Party written into their constitution.

I appreciate the honesty of that answer, and it is true that there will be dispute settlement provisions.

I agree with you that we see progress being made on issues important to the United States during these trade negotiations with the Trans-Pacific Partnership countries.

The second key challenge is weak governance, which leads to ineffective and not well-informed laws and regulatory frameworks.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. To Chairman Gardner, I want to thank him for his leadership on this subcommittee.

There are three branches of government, not two, not just the Executive and the Congress.

There should be no disagreement on our committee that any reasonable request be honored by any member of our committee.

We want clean water. We want clean air. That was not controversial among the Democrats and Republicans because the public understands that clean water and clean air is not controlled by one State, that you need to have a Federal policy on…

I appreciate your comments because I think many of us share the responsibility we have in Congress to oversee agencies.

The Clean Water Act is about people who swim who know that we have regulations to protect their health.

I do not think we can do that, but I do not know how this committee can act by the Majority in saying we are not going to give the agency the ability to carry out our intent through its actions because we do not believe they will do that.

I do not understand the logic of that argument.

That is exactly what we want them to do, to use science, to use the best data available to protect the public and make sure that we have clean water.

I support the Boxer Amendment. Mr. Chairman, when our constituents turn on their tap or go to their wells, they expect the water they are drinking is safe.

The Federal Water Pollution Act is an Act to protect traditional navigable waters from water pollution.

Make no mistake, our burden and our responsibility is on the public health of the people of this Country.

Therefore, the legislation we have before us, if not amended, will send EPA and the Army Corps back to the drawing board and create uncertainty once again.

This amendment is so straightforward and commonsense. It does not stop what Senator Barrasso is trying to do in his bill.