Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, responded with the following remarks to the federal appeals court decision that struck down the EPA’s ability to protect states from air pollution that crosses state lines.

“It doesn’t take a scientist to understand that air pollution doesn’t stop at a state borderline. Despite today’s court decision, the need to address cross-state air pollution remains as urgent as ever.  Maryland, despite having some of the strictest clean air rules in the country, continues to suffer from dirty air – and the resulting harm to public health – because of pollution from other states.  More than half of the smog in Maryland originates outside of our the state.  Federal efforts are essential to protecting our communities from the damaging effects of air pollution.”

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