Ben Cardin

President-elect Obama has said that he looks forward to signing legislation that will return the traditional role of the Clean Water Act.

Thirty percent of the problems in regard to nitrogen oxide comes from the air into the Bay.

We need to concentrate on reducing the nutrient levels that are suffocating the Bay.

The Federal partnership requires leadership, requires strategies based upon facts and science.

We need leadership. I know that you have indicated you planned to visit the Bay with me.

Let me just concur with your comments, particularly on the California waiver.

I have renewed faith that the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort under the Administration of President Obama will remain a Federal priority that deserves renewed attention and resources.

The Federal partnership in the Chesapeake Bay has been extremely valuable for promoting the appropriate type of remedial action.

I welcome both of you here and thank you, thank you for being willing to serve.

I would just like to have your assurance that the privatization initiatives are going to be reviewed very carefully.

I opposed the privatization initiative of the Bush administration, the OMB Revised A-76 Circular.

I applaud the Chairman and Ranking Member for continually reminding all of us in the Senate about our responsibilities to balance the budget.

I think we could be more aggressive in trying to move forward.

That's one of the highest priorities for us, to evaluate how we can modernize the Helsinki Commission and the OSCE process.

I particularly want to just underscore the challenge you're going to have in the Middle East between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Thank you for being willing to do this and to your entire family. I know it was a difficult decision.

We have got to stop the hemorrhaging of people losing their homes, and I would just underscore that point.

I urge you to have transparency as this is developed, because there are some good ideas out there.

We need their help, and they really do believe government aid is primarily directed at large corporations.

I would urge you, first of all, to keep us informed as to what is happening, what the facts are.

The economic engine of America in creating new jobs is small business.

It is aggressive in dealing with the short-term problems that you inherited.

I think it is an honest budget.

We need to be able to judge how we are achieving energy independence.

I encourage you to establish reasonable goals as to how we can wean ourselves off of imported energy sources, particularly oil.