Ben Cardin

We must first recognize that the Chesapeake Bay Program has played a critical role in stemming the tide of pollution.

The Chesapeake Bay is also in trouble.

This hearing of the Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife of the Committee on Environment and Public Works will come to order.

Climate change is affecting Maryland today.

Controlling air pollution is a critical element in restoring the health of the Chesapeake.

Smog is more than a nuisance--it is a real and persistent health threat.

We need rules and regulations that are based on good science and the rule of law . . . rules and regulations that don't get over-turned by the courts.

We could do a lot better. We made some progress, by the way, in the last Congress, and I want to see us continue to make progress to help vulnerable small businesses.

I think the HUBZones are critically important for underserved and vulnerable communities.

I think we really have to give you many thanks for what you did on surety bonds in the Recovery Act.

I have had recent town hall meetings and meetings with small business owners in Maryland, and they are very well attended.

There is a common theme that small businesses in Maryland and around the nation are in trouble and they are in desperate need of an SBA that is going to be their advocate.

I hope that you will look at this position as being an advocate and providing independent information.

I am a believer that government contracting and government contracting for small business, and as I said, I think it is win-win.

There should be a Federal agency that is charged with saying, did small business get its fair share of this economic opportunity?

I would suggest that part of this is making a commitment to get the science answers to these questions.

Let me make it clear, we need an energy policy in this Country that will provide for energy security and deal with the greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change.

I want to join our Chairman, Chairman Boxer, and thank you for holding this hearing.

I am a strong advocate of it.

Well, I appreciate that. I think that can be very helpful to us.

I think same thing is true with water efficiency, that we are losing an economic opportunity here that we need to figure a strategy to deal with.

One of the strategies we have tried to use on energy efficiency and renewables is that it is good economic sense for Americans.

I think having the information base, and President Obama talked frequently about having decisions made by best science and best information, it would be useful to be able to know the cost benefit ratios on dealing with water efficiency…

Well, I visited a green building in Howard County not too long ago, Howard County, Maryland, which is I think a model for a company that is innovative in green technology.

Your testimony points out the importance of green infrastructure. I would like to explore that a little bit more as to how EPA can be more helpful in promoting green infrastructure.