December 1st: I and Senator Barbara A. Mikulski lauded today's announcement by the Obama Administration that it would ban oil drilling off the Atlantic Coast through 2017. The senators have repeatedly called for a permanent prohibition on offshore drilling off the Atlantic Coast, particularly in areas too environmentally sensitive or vital to our national defense.

The Mid-Atlantic is just too environmentally sensitive for drilling. I applaud President Obama and Secretary Salazar for making the right decision to prohibit oil drilling off the Atlantic Coast. Drilling off the Virginia coast would have brought with it tremendous risks for our coastal economy and the future of the Chesapeake Bay, a national environmental treasure. I urge President Obama to make permanent today's announcement and help turn our nation's efforts to developing clean energy solutions that will create American jobs, fuel American business, strengthen our national security by ending our dependence on foreign energy, and protecting our precious natural resources.

November 30th: Today the Senate passed the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, an important step that needs to be taken to protect American families from serious illness or death caused by contaminated foods. The House passed a similar bill in 2009.

We have all heard the news reports of E.Coli and salmonella in foods such as spinach, eggs, and peanut butter. Unfortunately, food contamination has become common place. This bill will significantly upgrade our food safety laws by giving the government the tools it needs to verify food safety and to recall contaminated foods that threaten the health of American families.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, S. 510, is a bipartisan bill that provides the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with important tools to ensure that food producers implement appropriate preventive controls. It gives the FDA the authority to recall contaminated foods, to quickly determine the origin of those foods, and prevent them from being sold in our grocery stores. It also will require food importers to perform food safety verifications.

November 29th: Our nation is recovering from the most serious recession since the 1930s. Today we face continuing high unemployment and a $1.4 trillion federal budget deficit that threatens our economic security. All Americans have a stake in our economic recovery. President Obama has proposed a two-year pay freeze for federal employees to help address the deficit. I believe any federal employee pay freeze should only be considered as part of an overall deficit reduction package. This is particularly relevant as Congress considers tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which would add more than 10 times to the federal deficit than the President's proposed civilian pay freeze would save.

November 23rd: Today I thanked Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for choosing Maryland as the site to launch a 'Smart from the Start' wind energy initiative for the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf, which will facilitate siting, leasing and construction of new projects, spurring the rapid and responsible development of this abundant renewable resource. If no significant obstacles are found, leases could be offered within a year at the end of 2011 or early 2012.

Maryland is solidifying its position as a national leader in creating clean energy jobs that will help boost our economy, strengthen our national security by lessening our dependence on foreign oil, and protect our environment for generations to come. Smart from the Start will help expedite this important wind energy project that will bring thousands of jobs to our region that cannot be outsourced. I applaud Secretary Salazar for recognizing that the future of a clean-energy economy based on the development of renewable and alternative energy sources like wind, begins right here in Maryland.