Ben Cardin

This is clearly, I think it is required by the courts anyway.

We don't want to undermine the authority of EPA to act under the authority under the Clean Air Act itself.

It is clear to me that you do have that authority under the Clean Air Act to take additional steps provided you follow the process that the Court has indicated needs to be followed.

What more do we need to do in order to be able to achieve what science tells us we should achieve to protect the health of the people of our community?

I certainly support what EPA is trying to do with these transport rules.

I am committed to working to make sure that the Federal Government's efforts keep pace with and support the hard work Maryland is doing at the State level to protect Marylanders from unhealthy air.

Despite Maryland's successful efforts to reduce in-State emissions of ground level ozone and PM2.5 causing emissions, pollution from upwind States prevents Maryland from reaching attainment under the Clean Air Act.

For this reason I appreciate that EPA is in the process of addressing the issue of air pollution transport through its new Transport Rule.

I appreciate the time and attention that you and this Subcommittee spend on this important human health issue.

Thank you, Senator Carper, for holding this hearing today to examine EPA's proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule.

We depended on Sarah very much when she was on the staff of the Committee.

I am particularly pleased, along with my colleague, Senator Sarbanes, to introduce to the Committee Sarah Bloom Raskin.

I think she is going to be a very important addition to the Federal Reserve Board.

We very much appreciate your willingness to serve our nation during this very difficult time.

I applaud her for her balanced leadership in our State of Maryland.

Thank you very much, Chairman Dodd and Ranking Member Shelby and the Members of the Committee.

I'm just trying to figure out whether we're on schedule to meet the expectations that the administration had when the speech was given.

We are on target, as the administration had envisioned when these statements were made in late 2009.

Mr. Chairman, I'd just urge we have complete transparency--our government insists--on the mineral issues in that country.

I have expressed, previously, my concern that the United States aid and the international aid not be a source of funds for corruption in Afghanistan.

I do think we're entitled to be informed as to how well we are meeting the expected schedule that the President obviously had in mind when he gave his speech in December.

I'm just trying to judge whether we can expect the careful withdrawal that will begin in July.

Well, first, thank you both very much for your service.

Well, thank you very much, Senator Warner.

The politics of this is extremely difficult.