Maryland Senate Candidates On The Environment

AAEA is based in Maryland. Summaries of the positions of candidates for the U.S. Senate are posted below. We will highlight environmental positions of other candidates until the election. AAEA President Norris McDonald is pictured with Lt. Governor Michael Steele.

Michael Steele. Worked with conservationists to help restore the Anacostia and help complete the Anacostia River Walk, which connects the Anacostia Tributary Trail System in Prince Georges County and Montgomery County to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Ehrlich-Steele administration worked to preserve almost 60,000 acres of fields, open space, farmland and forests; and currently, one out of five acres in Maryland are under permanent environmental protection.

Kweisi Mfume. We must focus on reducing harmful toxins and increasing public awareness.
Clean air and clean water are American birthrights not American options.
The preservation of open space, the protection of our parks and wetlands, the dangers of toxic dumps and the unnecessary exposure to asbestos in the workplace must become environmental priorities in the U.S. Senate. Environmental toxins, such as asbestos, lead paint and lead dust poisoning are allowed to pollute our air and taint out water supply. I know that we can do better.

Benjamin Cardin. Fought to establish Clean Water Act discharge standards for nutrients into the Bay. Fought for oyster restoration efforts. Increased federal role in watershed treatment plant construction and upgrade. Established federal grants for local watershed associations and other groups for restoration projects. Fought for new federal grants for innovative environmental education programs. Supports increased funding for federal conservation, open space and environmental protections programs. Directed Corps of Engineers to work on restoring local waterways and wetlands.