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My first six months in the Senate |
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By Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.)
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Posted: 07/26/07 07:43 PM [ET] |
 It’s been more than six months since I was sworn in as the 1,886th member of the U.S. Senate, and the newness and awe are still with me. I vividly remember Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007: the swearing-in ceremony, the excitement of my family, friends and supporters, and my pledge to Marylanders that I would work for a new direction in this country.
Now, six months later, I think back to that day and remember my grandparents who fled Lithuania for a new life in America. As a second-generation American, I love this country, and I think of what my grandparents endured as they traveled to a new land so their children could have opportunities that they could never have imagined. They came because they had hope that life would be better in a new country, and, now as a U.S. senator, I have an opportunity to make life better for all Americans.
Being in public service is not a new experience for me. I spent 20 years in the Maryland House of Delegates, eight as Speaker, and another 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. But there is no doubt in my mind that as a U.S. Senator, I have a much greater opportunity to change the course of our country.
One of the questions I am asked most frequently is the difference between the House and Senate. They are two very different bodies with two very different traditions.
The House is a very structured environment in which the majority party — through the Rules Committee — wields enormous power. The Rules Committee controls debate and decides which bills will be considered. As a result, the House is more vulnerable to partisan politics.
In the Senate, passions run deep, but the process demands collegiality and respect. The process of moving legislation demands consensus, which promotes relationships and friendships. I have been extremely impressed by how accessible senators are and how willing they are to listen to my concerns or explain their views.
One of the greatest strengths of the Senate is that each individual senator can affect change in legislation. At the same time, the power of an individual senator can also be a matter of concern, as one individual can bring the business of the Senate to a halt. I saw that happen to a resolution I filed to honor the 100th birthday of Rachel Carson. Without unanimous consent, we witnessed the same process in considering the immigration bill, as some senators employed delay tactics by objecting to the reading of certain amendments, or forced the Senate to wait while all amendments were read.
One adjustment in the move from the House to the Senate has been the difference in size of the two bodies. The Senate’s smaller size presents greater opportunities and challenges. In the House, I was the member of one committee — Ways and Means. In the Senate, I sit on five committees and I am co-chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission. The additional committee assignments have afforded me a much greater opportunity to develop and shape legislation at the committee level.
Another real change has been the opportunity to shape legislation on the floor of the Senate. I still marvel at the fact that senators can speak on the floor almost any time they want and for a substantial length of time. In the House, members can be limited to 60 seconds and are usually permitted to speak only on subjects in which they have expertise.
I have found that the greatest challenge as a freshman senator is managing the demands on my time. From my committee work, to my staff, to meeting with groups and constituents, finding the time to do all I want to do is my greatest challenge. I would suspect the same is true for all freshman senators.
Being a member of this year’s freshman class has been a privilege. I have been impressed by the uniqueness of the 10 new freshman members and our collegiality, even when we may disagree. The experience of being a new member has created a shared bond, one in which we have all joined together to help each other master the intricacies of the Senate.
Also, I feel incredibly privileged to be able to work for a change in direction in this country. From the energy bill to ethics reform to redirecting our mission in Iraq, I have supported policies that provide for more transparency in government, that will help establish a comprehensive energy policy, and that I hope will eventually redirect our policies in Iraq.
I was particularly pleased that the recently passed CLEAN Energy Act included a provision that I introduced to establish a bipartisan National Commission on Energy Independence to ensure that 90 percent of all U.S. energy needs are supplied by domestic sources.
As a freshman senator with six months under my belt, I am ever hopeful that we can develop and pass legislation that will provide millions of Americans with the opportunity to succeed and move up the economic ladder. Every day I am thankful that my grandparents took the brave step of leaving their homeland to come to this great country — a country in which their grandson can help shape the world in which my own grandchildren will live.
Cardin sits on five committees, including Budget and Judiciary.
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