WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Sarbanes who represents Maryland’s Third Congressional District released the following statement on April 22, Earth Day. His full statement follows:

“Each year, Earth Day offers us an important opportunity to renew our shared commitments to climate action, environmental justice and protecting the Chesapeake Bay.

“But this year, our new Democratic Congress — working closely alongside the Biden Administration — has made these critical climate and environmental priorities a key focus. We are moving swiftly to address the climate crisis and to deliver environmental justice to communities across the country that, for far too long, have been locked out and left behind.

“As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I've advanced several pieces of legislation to address the climate crisis, including the Federal Building Clean Jobs Act and the CLEAN Future Act. We're also working to press ahead with President Biden's American Jobs Plan, which would strengthen our economy and create millions of good-paying jobs by investing in energy grid modernization, clean energy innovation, electric vehicle infrastructure and environmental conservation.

“At the same time, in my role as co-chair of the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I am building on the tremendous success we delivered for Bay conservation and cleanup efforts last year. This includes increasing federal funding for a number of Chesapeake Bay initiatives and forming a working group to explore the designation of a Chesapeake National Recreation Area managed by the National Park Service, which could help increase access to the Watershed, protect the Bay for future generations and permanently enshrine the Bay as an American environmental treasure.

“Importantly, as chair of the Democracy Reform Task Force, I continue to push forward our effort to pass H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which would crack down on corruption in Washington and end the undue influence of big fossil fuel companies and corporate polluters in our politics. By cleaning up our democracy, we can advance public policy to clean up our environment, address the climate crisis and achieve environmental justice.

As we celebrate Earth Day, enjoy the great outdoors and take in the coming spring weather, let's redouble our efforts to combat climate change and protect our environmental treasures, like the Chesapeake Bay — for our children and grandchildren.”