Protecting the Environment
Protecting the Chesapeake Bay and preserving Maryland’s natural resources for future generations remains one of my top priorities.
The Chesapeake Bay is one of Maryland’s greatest treasures, and protecting it is both an environmental and an economic priority. We need to continue restoring oyster habitats, reducing harmful stormwater runoff, protecting our forests and wetlands, and holding polluters accountable. Cleaner waterways mean healthier habitats for oysters, blue crabs, and other Bay species, while also supporting Maryland’s watermen, seafood industry, farmers, and coastal communities.
During my time in the Senate, I have consistently voted to protect the Bay and the waterways that feed it. I supported the Whole Watershed Act to accelerate watershed restoration, the Clean Water Justice Act to strengthen Maryland’s ability to protect clean water, and the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act to invest in regenerative agriculture, oyster aquaculture, and other strategies to improve water quality.
I have also supported stronger protections against pollution, including legislation restricting sewage sludge containing harmful levels of PFAS, taking steps to hold Maryland’s largest polluters accountable for the environmental harm they cause, and requiring corporations to take greater responsibility for the packaging waste they produce. I voted for the first major update to Maryland’s Forest Conservation Act in more than 30 years, establishing a no-net-loss standard for forests, and have supported significant investments in Bay restoration, parks, forests, and tree planting.
With thousands of miles of shoreline, Maryland is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise, flooding, and the effects of climate change. I support cleaner energy, greater energy efficiency, a more modern and resilient electric grid, and cleaner transportation. But our transition must also be affordable and reliable for Maryland families and responsible about land use and impacts on local communities.
Environmental policy must also recognize that low-income communities and communities of color have too often borne a disproportionate share of pollution and other environmental harms. I have supported energy-efficiency investments for low-income housing and other initiatives that can reduce costs while improving environmental and public health. We should continue expanding our tree canopy and targeting investments toward communities facing greater environmental and health risks.
My family chose to live here in large part because we love the Chesapeake Bay and the beautiful natural surroundings that make Anne Arundel County such a special place. I will continue working to protect our Bay, waterways, forests, and natural areas so that future generations can enjoy them as we do today.
I am proud that my environmental record has earned the endorsements of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club.
