Senator Ben Cardin has been a national leader on health care, retirement security, the environment and fiscal issues since coming to Congress in 1987. In 2006, he was elected to succeed Paul Sarbanes in the U.S. Senate. In the Senate, he serves on the Foreign Relations, Judiciary, Environment and Public Works, Budget and Small Business Committees.

The Washington Post has said that Senator Cardin is "a legislator's legislator" and he "is sensible, tough-minded and independent." The Baltimore Sun has said, "He has been able to work both sides of the aisle" to help workers save for retirement and to champion the expansion of Medicare benefits.

In the 111th Congress, Senator Cardin was successful in getting a guaranteed dental benefit included in the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program. The America Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) included his amendments to provide first-time homebuyers with an $8,000 tax credit for the first 11 months of 2009, and to raise the cap on surety bonds for small businesses from $2 million to $5 million.

From 1987-2006, Senator Cardin represented Maryland's Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He served in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1967-1986 and as Speaker from 1979-1986.

He has often been a voice for our most vulnerable citizens. In the 110th Congress, he received a grade of "A" from the NAACP and a score of 100 from the Human Rights Campaign. He also has received a 100% rating from the League of Conservation Voters.

Senator Cardin also has a long-standing interest in foreign affairs. He has been a Commissioner on the U.S. Helsinki Commission since 1993, and is currently chairman of the Commission for the 111th Congress. He also is Vice President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.

A 1967 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (1st in his class); he earned his B.A. degree in 1964 from the University of Pittsburgh (cum laude). He also holds honorary degrees from the University of Baltimore School of Law (1990); University of Maryland at Baltimore (1993); Baltimore Hebrew University (1994); Goucher College (1996) and Villa Julie College (2007).

Senator Cardin is married to Myrna Edelman Cardin.