John Sarbanes: “The industry keeps asserting that there is all this evidence that hydraulic fracturing can't contaminate underground…”

Each of which--each of which--would hamper EPA's ability to regulate air pollution and, unfortunately, continues this Republican agenda of putting Big Oil interests over the interests of the public.

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.

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.

I hope that today's hearing is the first step in continuing that legacy of strong bipartisan support for the Chesapeake Bay in this Congress.