John Sarbanes: “I commend you for the heroic efforts which your people apparently undertook to explore all of those various weaknesses.”

But these are dramatic changes that can bring us to a new place and, I think, have given many people a sense of hope instead of despair in the face of what we are seeing with a warming planet.

It's a national environmental treasure. It's a regional economic engine. It's been one of my top priorities since I've come to Congress.

Congress gave EPA this role more than 50 years ago under the Clean Air Act and reaffirmed that responsibility in 2005 under the Energy Policy Act.

The health of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed can only continue to improve through robust Federal, state, and local partnerships.