Press Releases & Statements
Cardin, Van Hollen Oppose EPA Methane Standards Roll Back
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.), both members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, this week joined 20 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend the public comment period for the proposed rule to weaken methane standards and to provide adequate justification for modifying the national standards. In 2016, the EPA adopted the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for methane … Continue Reading
October 18, 2018
Cardin and Van Hollen Join Effort to Give Workers a Greater Voice at Public Companies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) are joining 11 of their Senate colleagues in calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to use its upcoming Staff Roundtable to consider implementing reforms that will promote worker engagement, drive long-term growth and investment, and give workers a greater voice in public companies by allowing workers to be elected as company board members. In the letter, the Senators note research has shown that company boa… Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Call on DeVos to Release More Information about the Department of Education’s Failure to Faithfully Implement the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) on Tuesday joined a bicameral group of more than 150 Democrats in calling on Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to explain and rectify the Department of Education's failed implementation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. "Without swift action, millions of dedicated teachers, first responders, service members and other public servants will face substantial harm due to preventable failures on the part of … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Praise Judiciary Committee’s Approval of District of Maryland Nominee Stephanie Gallagher
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today praised the Senate Judiciary Committee's 20-1 vote to approve Magistrate Judge Stephanie Gallagher to fill the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. If confirmed, Judge Gallagher will occupy the seat previously held by Judge William D. Quarles, Jr., who announced his retirement effective February 2016. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts previously declared this Maryland seat as a j… Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Vote to Lower Healthcare Costs, Protect Americans with Preexisting Conditions
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) voted in support of Senator Tammy Baldwin's (D-Wis.) resolution to overturn the Trump Administration's expansion of junk insurance plans. Unfortunately, every Senate Republican except one opposed the resolution, voting to roll back protections for working families. Under these junk plans, insurers can deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions and refuse to provide essential health services required unde… Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Cardin Statement on Hispanic Heritage Month 2018
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, And Global Women's Issues, issued the following statement in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated from September 15 to October 15. "This month, I join the nation in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and the invaluable contributions of the Latino community to our count… Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Cardin, Colleagues Press Administration on LGBTQ Diplomatic Discrimination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today joined 19 of his colleagues in calling on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to amend a new Department policy that will halt the provision of diplomatic visas for unmarried, same-sex partners of foreign diplomats and employees posted to the United States or at U.S.-based international organizations. "To bar LGBTQ diplomats from bringing their partners to the United States is to condone the discriminatory policies of many countries around the w… Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Cardin, Klobuchar, Van Hollen Introduce Bill to Mandate Transparency for Election Security Systems
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee (D-Minn.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) have introduced legislation to bring greater transparency to America's election systems in an effort to protect our country from foreign interference, as occurred in the 2016 presidential election. The "Election Systems Integrity Act," (S. 3572) would require disclosure of foreign ownership of election service providers. This summer, it was revealed t… Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Cardin, Author of the Global Magnitsky Act, Joins Corker, Menendez, Graham, Leahy in Sending Letter Triggering Global Magnitsky Investigation Into Disappearance of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today joined Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as well as Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, in sending a letter to President Donald Trump triggering an investigation regarding the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi,… Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Cardin Statement on the Passing of Senator Joe Tydings
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday in remembrance of Senator Joe Tydings: "Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about a man whose lifelong commitment to progressive causes has had an enormous positive impact on Maryland, and on the United States: former United States Senator from Maryland, Joseph D. Tydings. Joe Tydings died on Monday, at the age of 90, after heroically battling cancer. … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Senate Passes Cardin Provisions in Major Bipartisan Water and Infrastructure Package
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today lauded the importance to Maryland communities of new legislation passed by the Senate that will enable much-needed improvements to our nation's water infrastructure and fund critical Chesapeake Bay restoration projects. The "America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018" will repair aging drinking water, wastewater and irrigation systems; deepen nationally significant ports … Continue Reading
October 06, 2018
Cardin Statement on Judge Kavanaugh’s Confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding today's confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as an Associate Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court: "Today is a difficult day for our country. For those of us who believe Judge Kavanaugh lacks the impartiality and judicial temperament to serve on our nation's highest court - and who fear how his opinions will shape the future of reproductive rights, health care, and other key issues - it is easy and understanda… Continue Reading
October 05, 2018
Cardin Urges Colleagues to Vote No on Kavanaugh on U.S. Senate Floor
Remarks as delivered on October 4, 2018: "Mr. President, I have read the FBI report. I listened to the Judiciary Committee hearings, including the second hearing with Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh. I reviewed Judge Kavanaugh's opinions as a judge and his public record during his tenure in the White House. "Based on his record, I cannot support his nomination for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court of the United States. I reached this conclusion before Dr. Ford's allegations were m… Continue Reading
October 04, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen, Delaney Announce Essential Air Service Extension for Hagerstown Regional Airport, Senate Passes Five-Year Reauthorization for EAS Grant Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen with Congressman John K. Delaney (All D-Md.) announced Thursday that Hagerstown Regional Airport, Richard A. Henson Field (HGR) has received an extension of its Essential Air Service (EAS) funding through March 2019. The EAS Program, funded through the U.S Department of Transportation (USDOT), provides critical air service that connects rural and remote areas to major hubs, helping to grow area businesses and support economic growth. In … Continue Reading
October 03, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Say FAA Reauthorization Will Boost Maryland Airports and Protect Passengers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today lauded Senate passage of a bipartisan, five-year reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that will now go to the president for his signature. In addition to stabilizing grant funding for airport improvements and passenger safety and right-to-know measures, the legislation includes provisions put forward by both Cardin and Van Hollen to mitigate the noise levels from incoming and outgoing flights at… Continue Reading
October 03, 2018
Cardin, Rubio to Pompeo: U.S. Must Lead on Syria Accountability
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), both senior members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Wednesday regarding the U.S. role in post-war Syria, highlighting the legislation they wrote to help America lead in seeking accountability from Bashar al-Assad and other perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Syrian War Crimes Accountability Act, co-authored by Senators Cardin and Rubio and passed by … Continue Reading
October 02, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $50,000 for Garrett Trails
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $50,000 in grant funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for Garrett Trails, which manages the recreational trail network in Garrett County, Md. The funds will be used to conduct a Trail Feasibility Study of the Casselman River Railroad project, which will assess the viability of bridging a gap between several miles of trail that would connect users of the Great Allegheny Passage trail to the 15… Continue Reading
September 28, 2018
Cardin Statement on Judiciary Committee Testimony from Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding Thursday's Judiciary Committee hearing. "I listened carefully as Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the allegations of sexual assault she has levied against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. I found her to be both deeply compelling and credible. Dr. Ford was sincere, open and forthcoming in her accounting. "Likewise, I listened carefully to Judge Kavanaugh. He had a rig… Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $22,000 in Funding for Water Infrastructure in North East, Maryland
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $22,000 in federal funding for water infrastructure predevelopment planning in North East, Maryland. The grant - which comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development program - will fund engineering and environmental reports to evaluate options to safely and efficiently upgrade the town's storm water drainage system. Aging storm water systems have made North East especially vulnerable … Continue Reading
September 25, 2018
Cardin, Senators Introduce Bill to Enhance Maternal Health Coverage Under Medicaid, Improve Health Outcomes for New Moms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) today introduced a bill to reduce the United States' rising maternal mortality rates, improve maternal and infant health outcomes, and close the disparities that continue to put mothers and children of color at risk. The bill, the Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Services (M… Continue Reading
